A WOLF AT THE DOOR ****
Danger and fear walk together in this violent world of ours. In modern society, danger became a constant factor in everyday’s life, sort of a risky character associated with everyone. Danger is everywhere, in many forms and sizes, and mostly personified in someone’s abrupt actions. Sometimes it is even closer than one could have imagined. Amidst the chaotic heat in urban Rio de Janeiro, a girl is missing, and an intense investigation will unfold looking for clues for her location. The mysterious disappearance is causing turbulence in the detective’s office as he’s questioning everyone involved, which includes the teacher who delivered the girl to a stranger, the anxious mother, the aggressive father and his young mistress. The detective is not up to waste his time; he makes clearly direct questions determined to solve the problem and rescue the little girl from abduction. This aspect of urgency and immediacy is visible since the opening of the film, when first time director Fernando Coimbra extracts cut-throat performances from his players, as each one tells their perspective on the situation and their connection to the victim, with intense realism. The actors are responsible for high chills in the audience, shocking as mysteries are revealed, and making it almost unbearable when depicting cruelty as never seen. Coimbra chose a familiar subject among Brazilian social issues, as violence is the greatest problem of the country, responsible for the corruption of many, including authorities themselves. He demonstrates incredible control of the situation, presenting an accurate and stylized investigation, increasingly unpredictable, and at the same time, he offers a study on dysfunctional human behavior when pushed to their limits. Leandra Leal is fantastic as the mistress, and she has won the Best Actress Award at Rio International Film Festival. She performs a hot scene, with her legs wide open that puts “50 Shades of Grey” to shame, as Milhem Cortaz (the father) shouts at her, bringing her to delirium. But it is Fabiula Nascimento, as the lonely wife, who steals the scene with a heartbreaking performance filled with agony and desperation. Precise and investigative, Coimbra created a film of extreme anxiety and accuracy as it exploits Brazil’s most infamous issue, the fear of violence.
DVD: IF YOU DON’T, I WILL
In this charming comedy, set in an atmosphere of a war “between man and woman”, a couple is trying to reconcile after a long time crisis. Attempting to save their marriage, Mathieu Amalric and Emmanuelle Devos go on a hike to explore themselves and figure out what’s lacking in their relationship. Director Sophie Filliéres narrates this anti-romantic story with cynically smart humor, making it a delightful meditation on modern relationships. (On DVD by Film Movement)
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