Ugo Giorgetti's directorial debut in "Jogo Duro" ("Hard Game") carries many of his notable characteristics used in future (and better) films
such as "Festa" and "Sábado": a story taking place in São Paulo; the use of a specific location almost like a play; his irreverent sense of humor
in quirk situations as faced by the eccentric and peculiar characters he creates; and all of those while revealing the social constrasts and the
distortions of a multicultured city. This one goes as a darkly funny story as opposed to his other genuine comedies, and it truly depends on the
viewer which side/genre he or she will embrace and accept.
It's set on the upper class neighborhood of Pacaembu, famous for the soccer stadium and several large mansions, and in one of those abandoned
big houses, a dilema and a bizarre love triangle will take place. A man (Jesse James) hired to be an on duty real estate that presents the house to potential
buyers, discovers that a homeless mother and daughter are living in the place (they're played by Cininha de Paula and Valeria De Andrade, respectively). The
security guard who takes care of the street (Cacá de Carvalho, the eternal Jamanta) allowed them
to stay there, since he has some interest in the mother. The other man doesn't kick them out, as he's also end up attracted by the mystery poor woman.
The big dilema revolving a house that doesn't belong to none of those characters and it's up for sale by a cheap-shot real estate agent (Antônio Fagundes),
in an already problematic neighborhood that slowly got abandoned because of the countless robberies and the stadium's movement during matches, is how those
men can cheat neighbors and buyers about hiding the woman and her kid. And beyond all, which man the one woman must choose as her best savior and protector:
the one who offered her the house first or the one who's taking care of the place now?
The choices that come with the circumstances, as if one was a god/creator that got replaced by someone with a more physical quality. The guard has a somewhat
naive demeanor, holding himself dearly with a gun and believing he has a right over the woman; opposed to the smart and scoundrel new keeper of the house,
who is not liked by the girl at all, and she creates plenty of confusion to the trio.
There are laughter and many funny moments in "Jogo Duro" and its thanks to all members of the cast that the story succeeds in being very attractive
and fun to watch. A masterful and memorable moment comes when the couple played by Eliane Giardini and Paulo Betti make a disastrous visit to the mansion
and the lady gets locked in the disugsting bathroom. But it's a little hard to actually laugh at all the proposed scenarios as it is hard to avoid the
real drama of it all. The housing problem in a major city; underpriviliged characters going against each other believing they have some form of superiority
over each other; and how the relations of interest are formed. Giorgetti is more concerned in developing the humor and the irony of this chaotic scenario
rather than exploring the sadness and danger of it all. With this junction of elements, you might feel there's something missing, either for not being a
completely funny story (with some obvious dark tones) or find that the potential huge drama wasn't explored with greatness. Had Sérgio Bianchi behind this material
he'd make something more twisted, more critical and way funnier as he knows how to explore the chaotic nature of São Paulo, its social divisions and find a perfefct humor to it all.
It's a very good film but a lesser work from Giorgetti, who only got better after this. 8/10.
