Starring: Sergio Harger, Johnny Alcántara, João Cury
Director: Mauro Carvalho
Country: Brazil
UK Distributor: TLA Releasing
Renan (Alcántara) is embroiled in an illicit and secret affair with a closeted far-right politician (Harger). A dangerous and volatile relationship, it isn’t long before Renan wants to escape this controlling and manipulative senator, but is unable to do so. Meanwhile, headstrong journalist Victor (Cury) is writing an exposé about the politician, but when he coincidentally meets and starts dating Renan too, he has no idea how closely his link to the story is.
A dark political thriller from the director of Cousins and About Us, this is a very different kind of a film from his earlier – more romantic – work. Set in the upper echelons of the Brazilian government, the film struggles from having a relatively small budget, meaning that we never really buy into the realism of its setting. Sure, the actors look the part, but the sets, cinematography and locations don’t have the gloss you would need to convince us that these are the rich and powerful.
It also suffers from having a very small cast, meaning that there are very few directions that the story could go. With a twist in its final minutes like all good thrillers, this was unfortunately somewhat predictable because there was only really a couple of options where it could go. So while its central story proved sound, the entire film fell victim to its unambitious scale.
While Sergio Harger was certainly menacing as the titular senator, Arthur, the other actors are decidedly wooden in a cast of one-note characters and uncharismatic stereotypes. As political thrillers go, this certainly ascribes to genre tropes, but it does absolutely nothing above and beyond. Dark, moody but entirely obvious, this is an erotic thriller minus the thrills.
UK Release: Out now to watch on VOD on Dekkoo, released by TLA Releasing
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