johannes2000-1

Young Wellington, recently released from juvenile detention, penniless and homeless, is towed-in by older Ronaldo, to partake in his male escort and drugs-dealing schemes. The film pictures realistically and without restraint how demanding and dangerous this life at the dark, seamy side of Sao Paulo is, while in the meantime some sort of tentative relationship between the two men develops.

This movie is also about age: 40 plus Ronaldo has to watch how 18 years old Wellington gradually prefers the fun and unhindered life with his group of young gay friends, in stead of bowing to the protective, but strict rules of his mentor, who is forever entangled in shady financial obligations, therefore desperately in need of the money that Wellington brings in. The latter however gets fed up with this oppressing and even life-threatening responsibility, he yearns for being a carefree young adult, illustrated by adopting for himself the aka "Baby".

The movie has a very authentic and sincere feel, and both actors Joao Pedro Mariano (Baby) and Ricardo Teodoro (Ronaldo) do a great job. My only reservation concerns the fact that it's hard to relate to both characters, since neither is really sympathetic: both are in fact opportunists, considering each other, each for his own reasons, as some kind of temporary life buoy. Sure, the tears of Ronaldo at the end are real, but he is still the one that lured Wellington into this dangerous low life. And Wellington may be endearing in his at times uninhibited enthusiasm, but he also often behaves like an angry stubborn child, and in the end relentlessly chooses for himself.

I liked it. There's of course nothing new with this very generic summer-camp slasher, it's completely exchangeable with the dozens (hundreds?) of predecessors. But that's in fact part of the fun, especially when it's adequately made, with all the essential suspense and jump scares and brutal deaths. There's the usual bunch of very divers kids (nerd, bimbo, jock, smart girl, etcetera) and as a nice extra, it's also a comedy, not so much hilarious, but in a pleasant, chuckley way. Main character is camp leader Jason (what's in a name!), endearingly played as a well-meaning but naive and gullible teddybear by Fred Hechinger. I also liked Billy Bryk as Bobby, so hard trying to look cool, but mostly ducking away, until he in the end boldly jumps over his own shadow. The gore isn't too harsh, the actual slashings are mostly off-camera, and the solution as to the identity of the masked killer comes a bit out of the blue, with totally unrelatable motives (but I guess that goes for every serial killer's motives). For the rest a nice, fun, well made, non pretentious slasher.

If you liked "Elite", then you'll probably like this one too: it's in the same vein, a bunch of young people thrown together in a school-like setting, trying to unravel some mysteries, in the meantime having all kinds of mutual issues and love affairs. The setting here is a top sports center where promising athletes are prepared for championships, and the mystery involves the providing of doping by a shady sports sponsor. For the rest it's Elite revisited: the same passionate tensions and fights, the same steaming sex-scenes, the same surprising plot-shifts, even some of the actors are the same. All of which by the way is not a bad thing: I loved Elite, and this Olympo is equally entertaining.

The young actors are really very good, although I wasn't too thrilled with main character Amaia (Clara Galle), who's constant bad temper, self-righteous attitude and shrieking voice got really tiresome, but hey, maybe that was just very good acting (or typecasting). Many of the actors have to deliver serious sports performances (rugby, synchronic swimming, running) and they do that surprisingly well. Also like in Elite, there's a lot of attention to LGBT-relationships, and I love it that they aren't prudish in this department, but give the gay couples equally sizzling sex-scenes as the straight couples.

The last episode ends more or less in mid-air, and with an exciting cliffhanger, so they are probably preparing a next season. I sure am game!