Natal da Portela

This is quite an awful film, directed by an allegedly famous Brazilian director, Paulo Cezar Saraceni, and starring several actors really popular in that country. To me, the direction seemed terribly amateurish (the editing even moreso) and the actors seemed too good to be acting in pornography. It is a biopic of Natal da Portela who established the first Samba School in Rio de Janeiro. After watching this film, I have only the vaguest notions of what a Samba School is (those notions solely provided by the Q&A session after the film). The character presented on screen is different in every scene. The only character trait that was well established is that he had one arm. The film vaguely tells us how he lost his arm. The drama doesn't work, the comedy works even worse. At least there's some good music once in a while. It wants to be a musical, I think, but I don't think they could afford to make it one. I liked the documentary scenes of Carnival at the film's end.

I doubt Americans will have many chances to see this film, anyways. If the chance arises, avoid it like the plague. The music is nice and there are some pretty colors. That's all. Rent Black Orpheus instead, I implore you!

3/10.