Rainha

T's that simple: I just saw the "Queen" here on youtube. And it is, quite clearly, the film that moved me the most of the ones I have seen in a long time. It moved, above all, for being very, very, very good cinema. All right, all better than right, perfect balance (made of alternating imbalance) between rigor and freedom, raw truth and dream artifice, cutaneous proximity and distant, respectful observation. Very rare, all of this. Very, very rare in Brazilian film, which needs (I think) exactly that. Intensely Brazilian, the film, on the other hand. It could only be Brazilian, it could only be yours. I'm spread out on the floor, "sprawled", as Dalva de Oliveira would say... Only at the end, in the generic, I saw that these unbelievable images are from Julia Zakia. Incredible, her harmony with the vision of filmmaker Sabrina Fidalgo, the universe of the "Queen", the universe inside her, the universe that is hostile to her, everything. And now I'm going to try to wake up from the blow I took from that "Queen".

With a lot of narrative and conceptual consistency, rhythm, density, beauty and truth Rainha brings the touching narrative, of confrontation and glory experienced by Rita, a young black woman who dreams, year after year, of becoming Rainha of the drums of the samba school of their community, making all the physical and emotional sacrifices to do so. After all, who remembers that carnival lasts all year round for those who work there?

The big point that the film brings is the resource of black and white. How can we have a carnival without bright, strong and vivid colors?

Rainha seems plural, like all good cinema.

After a very promising beginning, with amazing black and white footage showing African Brazilian religion and carnival costumes, the movie unfortunately becomes bad and bizarre. What the hell is that female clockwork orange gang?

Rainha is a great film, full of imagery and meaning behind the conflict that Rita the main character goes through. I recommend this film to whoever likes a well thought out story full of drama and beautiful esthetic. It will help you emerge in the Brazilian story telling.