Melodrama is a tricky type of film to create. It can at times be so over the top that it is just.... too much, too earnest, too sugary sweet to be real (and ultimately taken seriously). Movies of the week time and time again tell the stories of those whom overcome, persevere and make it big, and while that is
aviously a theme that rings true for some persons, when viewing a film in a theater, I have no desire or need to see such types of melodrama as (for me) it is the exact thing that belongs on the small screen.Antonia (the third in a trilogy from Brazillian director Tata Amaral) is melodrama, but what sets this apart (and above) the movie of the week over the top production it could have become is the performances within, as well as a seemingly strong understanding and ernest desire to portray this story as straightforward and real as possible within the idea of melodrama. Antonia is not a ... complicated... film. The storyline is pretty straightforward (but not to the point of knowing all that will come), and easy to follow, and in the case of this film, that is an okay thing. This is not a story that seems to be trying (with any earnesty) to make a point (althought in some ways it does), more it seems to be a movie that is just here to reveal a bit about these characters and the situations they live in from day to day. Four women from a rundown area of Sao Paulo dream of making it big (as the group Antonia), is the basis for the story presented. Framed around personal crisis, anger, poverty, unplanned pregnancy, jealousy, chauvinist attitudes and all the other things that come with living where they do and dealing with what it is they have to from day to day, (and being women in general), Amaral has crafted a story that while not being new or groundbreaking is, in its energy an interesting piece of film to watch. Using non-professional actors and real life singer/rappers gives Antonia an edge, and a realness that adds greatly to the entire package. I often find singers that attempt to act fall short, but here performance from the women are good, and believable, and the music (that is a very large part of the storyline) is excellent. (Particularily amazing was their acapella version of Killing Me Softly, but that is not the only good performance). Filming is very well done with special props going to the cinematographer whom manages with practically every shot to showcase (both intimately and on a grander scale) the vibrancy, colours, poverty etc of the area. If nothing else, this is (visually) a great movie to watch. Being it is melodrama there are a few moments of that made for television feeling, but it never goes too far over the top, and indeed seems to be aware of such traps and quickly pulls itself back from falling over the edge, again a sign (to me) of a director whom understands the direction they want for the film in all ways (as well as knowing the pitfalls and traps of filming this style of film) It is rare to find films about women, and their relationships that can (and do) manage to stay as intelligent and focused throughout as this one manages to do. That was a very pleasant surprise for me. A movie to feel good about (without being too sugary nor dumbing it down), with good performances, great music and competent filming. If any of those things interest you in your film viewing then it seems (to me) you could do much worse then Antonia.:) 7.5 [center][/center]Antonia. 2006, Brazil. Director, Tata Amaral. Language, Portuagese.
October 1, 2007
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