A poor girl from Brazil's Northeast wants to leave her smalltown behind to live the dream in São Paulo where better conditions are available. But she doesn't have the money
to buy ticket. So what does she do? She makes of raffle where the winner can get an awesome prize: a sex night with her. That's right, you heard it well. She is the raffle prize.
Karim Ainouz short film deals with this idea and it was taken from an apparently real life story (almost an urban legend) of a girl who did the exact same thing and the challenge is
thrown on us if we could accept such fate happening to us, to people we know, to strange and how would we deal with such ideal and intent.
Although there's a sense of urgence to a movie like this of which it could create a great debate on issues of what people do in order to fulfill with their dreams, the film
lacks of great narrative, a better developed storytelling (and Ainouz is a master storyteller) better focusing on the humored aspects of the issue rather than addressing a more meaningful
and memorable film to be seen. It was so far out of reach that it was hard to relate with any character, it wasn't all that funny neither was dramatic interesting to make me feel for the
characters - though I didn't ignore their obstacles, their near-tragic fate. My enjoyment from the film came from some small humored moments where you can see that everyone knows each
other in the smalltown and lots of people, from all ages, paid for the raffle and were anxious to win the prize. She's not the gorgeous girl in town but she sure has an appeal, and
even if it wasn't the case, some men get to a certain level that any action is wanted.
It's evident that female viewers will had their quarrels with such a story since it makes of women mere sex objects and that they are undervaluing their position in society. One can
see that. But it's our hero's decision, she's not worried at all since it's all about moving out from there, forget about everything and everyone from there and get the chance to lead a
decent life where she won't have to do that anymore. But on the other hand, though the movie doesn't address those issues, I wonder about the man. It's like there isn't any truly
questioning her motives behind the raffle, they're all for it. What makes of those pitiful creatures who all pay different values, different charts and the lucky ones gets the fun and
games. They are so lost in their misery and loneliness that they can find a partner for themselves and just bet their luck. Their masculinaty is so narrow that they can only see winning
the game instead of seeing something beyond their own limitations. While she sells herself for one day to have the prospect of a better life for years ahead, they just dream and wish
for an one night stand of which he they'll get (whoever it is) it'll only last one night and then...they'll spend the rest of their days remembering that event yet still stuck in that
damned smalltown living their stupid little lives while she grows to become to someone (if only we knew what was her aspirations, but it doesn't matter really, she's destined to become
someone better).
Main question is: does it worth it to sell yourself to others, strangers or potential acquaintances in order to fulfill a wish? Does it worth it all the extreme situation?
I won't go down that road in giving my thoughts about it. I guess we're all grown ups who can made our own decisions, capable of discerning what's wrong or right or necessary. Just this
extreme thought of things happening is provoking enough to get an internal response of each one of us. We are humans. With reasoning given to us to make us different to animals
we can provide ourselves with things as acceptable or not, we don't follow just our instincts. There's more to it. Truth is: while the movie doesn't reach a higher intellectual
level, it can certainly provoke on us the reasoning enough for us to try to find some understanding about why this woman does what she does. She's the real winner of the whole thing.
No disappointment can reach her because she already get what she wanted, the ticket to reach her dream. As for another outcome, of whom, if a familiar face or unknown, like those guys
she just trying her luck - it can get worse or it can go real bad but no one is stopping her from this weird contest.
A curious movie that while it doesn't throw the harsh questioning on viewers on a blunt manner it surely gets them thinking of everything that it's presented. 7/10.
