A most unusual project, I must say, yet it's quite good. To those unfamiliar with veteran character actress Maria Gladys she has an extensive body of
work in Brazilian cinema and TV, and for the current generation you might be hearing a lot about her granddaughter, the current horror queen Mia Goth
("Pearl", "Suspiria" remake). Yet Gladys credits are quite impressive on her own working with directos such as Ruy Guerra, Neville D'Almeida, Domingos de
Oliveira, Walter Salles, Cláudio Assis and many others; and many countless soap operas from TV Globo - (I remember her best from a funny role she had in
"Salsa and Merengue"). Her film credits at the time are presented at the conclusion on a voice-over by the film director.
This special documentary made by veteran actress Norma Bengell exposes a little about the life and work of Maria, with brief interviews intercut with
some small acted monologues or more intimate moments where she undresses to the camera. Highly unusual yet interesting to see how art plays an important
part in her life. Bengell can be heard in some moments while interviewing Gladys who keeps trying to find a best way to present herself as questions roll
by (and I'm curious to know who were those two guys who abruply appeared in the middle of one particular shot. It was so random and never explained who
they were).
Since it follows from the ordinary tributes made for artists and it's basically an one-on-one made in a very candid way, this is quite a special, unique
project. Pity it doesn't last longer and neither of the actress film clips are shown - and plus, she went on to have a longer career on film and TV afterwards.
6/10.
