Ópera do Malandro

Very enjoyable, not to be taken too seriously. Setting this slice of lowlife in Rio at about the time of Pearl Harbour was inspired, since it shows the conflict between the democrats like the malandro (hustler) and fascists like the cabaret-owner Otto Strudel. The sexy bits are perfectly choreographed, proving once again that the Brazilians are the only people who can make intelligent erotic movies.

This movie is based on a stage-musical by Chico Buarque, which must have been a real treat. The movie incorporates the dance-numbers very effectively, especially the duet where Ludmila Strüdel (Claudia Ohana) and Margot `energetically' dispute their claims to the malandro's affections. Another great dance-number, a tango, occurs in the dingy warehouse where Max and Ludmila are about to be married; the police-chief (a childhood friend of the malandro) is to perform the ceremony, but then he turns up in his official capacity to arrest everybody. None the less, the happy-go-lucky Cariocas are able to salvage a happy ending at the last moment.

If you thought the movie musical had had the biscuit, check this one out (also Pennies from Heaven, 1981).

Ruy Guerra, the director, is one of Latin America's foremost cinematographers, best known among gringos for Eréndira (starring his sometime wife Claudia Ohana). She also stars in this one as Ludmila Strüdel, and you can see that she has a lot of what it takes. Ruy Guerra is also an actor; he played the good-guy Pedro de Ursúa in Herzog's `Aguirre, the Wrath of God' and got to be imprisoned by the mad Kinski-Aguirre. I shall definitely be looking out for more of his works in future.