socarrasjorge

Even for the 90s this film could set back gay liberation decades more. Some reviewers compare it to La Cage aux Folles, but unlike La Cage, which was well written farce and hilariously funny, Pédale Douce tries to veer from comedy into dramatic territory, but is so weakly written that it ends up misfiring on all fronts. It's not even fair to say it's politically incorrect; it's just so wrong in every way that I can only imagine it was written by clueless straight people or even more clueless gays. There are so many cringeworthy moments when I wanted to turn it off, but the only thing that kept me watching was Fanny Ardant, who is radiant despite the script and ridiculous characterizations. She can do a coffee commercial and make it seem marvelous, and she is marvelous to watch even here. However, asides from a couple of sexy moments, it takes determination to withstand the rest. Pédale Douce translates to "soft pedal" but lame pedal would be more apt.

Don't know why one reviewer was so determined to bash this film. While it may not be a great film, it's a sweet and tender story that tackles interlacing themes: illegal migrants in Spain; a May-September affair; a mother-son relationship, and unrequited love, with both gay and heterosexual desire given equal billing. The lead actress Marisa Paredes is one Spanish cinema's finest and is always worth watching. (Viewers might recognize her from Almodóvar film especially.) The rest of the cast is comprised of attractive, less experienced actors who manage credible, sympathetic performances. What's more the film is shot on location in beautiful Valencia. In sum, there's enough to this film to make it quietly enjoyable if not revelatory. Worth a try.

This is an important story in the history of Brazil, passionately told via expert filmmaking and excellent actors. It's brutal at times because we know that the horrible acts perpetrated in the film really happened, and that there are those who would silence the film even now makes it more important that it be seen. A remarkable film on all accounts.