Luis Fernando Veríssimo is one of the greatest Brazilian writers ever. Most filmmakers would make a documentary about him emphasizing his multiple skills and his literary feats. That is not what director Defanti intended to do here. His idiosyncratic approach was entering Verissimo's intimate life few days before his 80th birthday until that celebration, and then catching the man behind the awarded fame. Well, what we see is daily routine of a shy elder in the most natural way possible, listening each environment noise. Verissimo speaks the least he can, and less than everyone surrounding him. Is that the essence of Veríssimo? Well, yes, it is part of him. But... is it the best way to show who is he? I do not think so. He is much more than his age or his shyness. Outcome is sluggish, what is very different from his fierce smart humour. There are few moments which called my attention in the movie, like the contrast between his slow pace and his granddaughter's childhood frenzy, or like the way fans surpass expected limits in contrast to his polite but blasé mood. To resume, the documentary is not a catastrophe, but it is as mild as the performance of Verissimo's football club Internacional that is portrayed in the documentary footage.
