Film Review of Abril Despedaado
Year: 2001 Reviewer: Chris Docker
From award winning director Walter Salles, who made both Motorcycle Diaries and Central Station, comes another fine film that again helps to put Brasil, a country almost the size of the whole of the USA, on the 'map' so to speak. This beautiful but desolate tale is set in Bahia where feuding families follow an 'honorable' eye for an eye code over their land. The men find their honour rests in an endless cycle of muted revenge, whilst the two main female characters, from a position of inferior authority, attempt to save the odd life. We see the farmers processing sugar cane, an arduous task, the scarcity in their lives, and the beautiful landscape that barely supports survival. The story is told from the point of view of a child whose parents haven't even bothered naming. Immaculate acting and beautiful direction makes the simple story constantly captivating - an absolute gem.
Rating: 7/10
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