Ver-O-Peso

A mix between short documentary and fictional film, this project presents the public market center of Ver-O-Peso, located in Pará's capital (north of Brazil) and considered one of the largest of its kind. The movie doesn't have narrators detailing about the place, instead we have poetry being performed by a local from the region (possibly an actor, can't tell exactly) and some songs from the region, as a lost and clueless American tourist has his share of confusion and troubles while visiting the place.

Interesting concept and fun mixture of different genres with many great shots capturing the place, the crowded market and the vendors from the place, the bet on soccer teams on a dice game, the fishing boats at the dock. Great visuals. Following the characters was a little strange since while the locals aren't so nice and warm with strangers - as the lady with the snake ends up frightening the foreign man, and for a film that builds encouragement in attracting tourist they shouldn't be so real with its depiction by showing that the man gets mugged during his trip. I mean, can you imagine if the French had made a movie showing the beauties of visiting the Louvre or Eiffel Tower and then the main character gets assaulted on the street? Not pleasant at all.

A little bit of voice-over telling about the place construction wouldn't hurt (the place's name comes from the early 1900's but the market location dates way more centuries before that) but I like the way things were presented. Pretty cool to see its grandiosity of everything. 6/10.