Dangkou (Plastic City)

Very strange debut movie by Nelson Yu Lik wai, who is better known as the cinematographer of Jia Zhang ke (who’s one of the multiple producers) that’s visually interesting but the story and storytelling style is not.

This is a Chinese, Japanese and Brazilian production with a story set in Brazil about a crime family in the counterfeit goods business. Tells about Chinese counterfeit “king” Yuda (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) and his adopted Japanese “heir” Kirin (Jô Odagiri) who embark on a power war and eventually are ousted by an ambitious Chinese younger “king wannabe”.

What makes this movie strange is that looks and feels like a Japanese or Chinese film/story but the Sao Paulo setting really crashes with the story the film is telling. I tend to believe that if the same story is told in Hong Kong, Tokyo or any other major Japan or China city, the story, the film, and the storytelling style would have made a completely different film that would have been a lot more interesting.

Main actor’s performances are really good but their acting style looks and feels totally out of place; still that’s one of the reasons that allowed me to watch the entire film, besides the eye-catching visuals and excellent cinematography. But neither saves the film as a whole and when is over leaves an unpleasant taste in your mouth that travels fast to your head.

It’s hard for me to imagine how a film with such excellent credentials went so wrong. But this is not the first (and probably won’t be the last) movie with excellent Asian credentials where storytelling goes wrong because of the setting, just remember Kar Wai Wong's Blueberry Nights.

The film was in competition for the Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Film Festival and I also do not understand how it end-up there, as is a film with style but very little substance.

I cannot recommend this movie.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

A Dama do Lotação (Lady on the Bus)

As I imagined –but was hoping not to happen- I couldn’t endure the movie that to me it was just an excuse to show Sonia Braga at her erotic prime in one, two and many more sexual encounters that for me became boring after a few I saw completely; the rest I fast forwarded!

The film has a story that could have been interesting as writer Nelson Rodrigues oeuvre is known for being against the Catholic Church and the establishment. Two childhood friends marry in a big wedding. Solange (Sonia Braga) goes into marriage a virgin. But the first night she freezes, asks for more time, she cannot have sex with her husband. The husband rapes her. A friend tells Solange that probably she’s cold only with her husband, so she suggests trying another man or men. She takes the advice and starts to ride buses to have sex with strangers.

One thing was simply outstanding for me, the original music by Caetano Veloso! But I’m familiar with all the songs in the movie, so nothing new; just the pleasure of listening to old recordings.

Probably I will not watch another Pornochachada soon and definitively I liked a lot more Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos that was more interesting to watch.

I have to thank a dear blog reader for sending me the movie and give me the opportunity to watch another Pornochachada with Sonia Braga. Many Thanks!!!

This movie could appeal only to those that are interested in watching a very young Sonia Braga sans clothes many, many times.

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Pornochanchada

Terrible “sounding” word that I just learn a few days ago thanks to a great blog reader and I know that some of you know what it is and some will not. Me to denote my huge ignorance admit that never heard the word before.

The word comes from Brazil and is composed by two words: pornô (porn) and chanchada (light comedy) and to my surprise is a Brazilian cinema genre that was popular in Brazil thanks to the strict censorship of the military dictatorship of the ‘70s and early 80’s. According to a fast research, the films initially were produced in the downtown quarter of Sao Paulo with the nickname Boca do Lixo (Garbage Mouth) and collectively were also known as cinema da Boca (movies of the Mouth).

The genre had so much success that a subgenre was eventually generated and called pornochanchada carioca with films done in Rio de Janeiro.

When I first learned the word I related to the American sexploitation films and even if I still think that pornochanchada have to have an influence, the information I found is that were inspired by Italian cinema of the ‘70’s and I tend to believe that could be true as in that decade (and a little before) Italian cinema use to do a lot of “art” and “comedy” movies that have a very thin line bordering porn.

When the military dictatorship ended, the genre also disappeared and the actors and actresses that became so popular migrated to soap operas and “normal” cinema. What really blew my mind is to find that actors/artists like Caetano Veloso, Sonia Braga, etc. and even Xuxa did pornochachadas.

I’m really fascinated with this discovery more in the intellectual side than in the “I’m going to watch the movies right away” side, as I really dislike porn and I’m not a fan of sexploitation movies. But if I ever find a movie with Sonia Braga that belongs to this genre probably I will watch it for “educational” purposes. (I did!!)

Nevertheless I imagine the genre must be more comedy than porn as according to what I read, the strict censorship allowed this genre because they weren’t critical of the government and did not depict explicit sex.

When I have more time I will do a formal research about this genre and promise to not write in here about it. But now, after I did this post, I know I won’t forget about Pornochanchadas!

If you feel like watching some posters from the genre go here.

OMG!!! I just found that I have seen a Pornochanchada and had NO IDEA of the genre! In that page there is a poster for a Sonia Braga movie that of course I saw and liked! Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos!!! Still, the pic in this post is one movie I haven’t seen and the music is by Caetano Veloso... gosh! Veloso and Braga… hmm! Too Much to skip it!

LOL!