À Flor da Pele

In São Paulo, the professor of Dramatic Arts, specialist in Shakespeare and writer of soap operas Marcelo Fonseca (Juca de Oliveira) has an unsatisfactory marriage with Isaura (Beatriz Segall), with whom he has a daughter. When he meets the spoiled and unstable wealthy student Verônica Prado (Denise Bandeira), they have a torrid but destructive love affair. Marcelo does not have enough courage to divorce from his wife, and his dysfunctional relationship with Verônica deteriorates due to the explosive and selfish temper of Verônica.

When Verônica and her friend Toninho (Ewerton de Castro) are flunked by Marcelo, Verônica gets drunk and faces her father. He beats her up and Verônica, who is secretly pregnant of Marcelo, loses her baby. She revenges and tells Isaura her love affair with her husband. Isaura tries to commit suicide and separates from Marcelo; he is fired from the university and moves to another city; and Verônica is expelled from the university and is left alone.

"'A Flor da Pele" is a successful Brazilian film about a tense and destructive relationship between a professor and his student. In 1976, this film had an audience of about 400,000 viewers, which is weighty for a Brazilian film. Further, it was awarded in the Gramado Film Festival in the categories Best Film; Best Actress (Denise Bandeira); and Best Screenplay (Francisco Ramalho Jr.). Denise Bandeira was also awarded in the X Air France Cinema.

The director Francisco Ramalho Jr. keeps the environment tense, with the couple having an edgy relationship. Juca de Oliveira and Denise Bandeira are perfect, with great performances and showing magnificent chemistry. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "À Flor da Pele" ("Edgy")