It is impossible to talk about Andrucha Waddington work without praising how grand Fernanda Montenegro performance is. She was 92 years old when the film was shot, and according to her, this will likely be her last cinematic work due to the exhaustion and demands of filmmaking. The movie is being released at a time when Brazilian cinema is thriving, which brings it the prestige and attention it deserves, despite a terrible choice in visual promotion, such as the much-criticized controversy surrounding the film's main poster.
Fernanda Montenegro portrayal of Nina is deeply moving, it makes you laugh, cry, and truly feel the tension and loneliness that the character often tries to hide. It is a performance to be remembered, an important work in itself. However, while Fernanda Montenegro shines, it feels like she shines alone for almost half the film. The supporting cast fails to contribute to the depth of her performance, with some scenes coming across as cringe-worthy in terms of acting, cinematography, and especially direction. At times, it seemed as though Andrucha forgot he was making a movie and was instead directing an episode of a bad TV series, particularly in scenes involving the residents of Nina condominium. In these moments, Fernanda Montenegro carries the film entirely on her own.
However, in the second half, with the appearances of Alan Rocha, Laila Garin, and some remarkable scenes featuring the young Thawan Lucas, everything around her begins to shine. The film's tone shifts, and the performances of all involved elevate Fernanda Montenegro even further.
Overall, it is a good Brazilian film that touches on delicate and complex aspects of our national identity. It is amusing, though, to see people's initial expectations that this would be the next Im Still Here, only to realize that making a film like that is extremely difficult. But Brazilian cinema does not need to be an award-winning masterpiece, it just needs to be a good national film, one that we can appreciate, recognize, and be willing to pay to see in theaters.
