I blind watched a newish digital rental called Bacurau, a Brazilian film of some indeterminate genre. I’d heard it talked about and it’s been given good reviews. So I gave it a shot, intrigued by the mystery, and spent more time waiting for the pieces than I did putting them together.
The film is often called a Western (or a Weird Western by Wikipedia) and that may or may not be apt. It’s set in the “near future” but not in any recognizable way. It’s set in a backwater Brazilian village (called Bacurau) where the trappings of modern society are there (cell phones, tablets, etc.) but running water and other niceties are missing. But they do know they usually get cell phone signals and they know their town is on Google Earth… but suddenly it’s not. I won’t say more… might as well leave some ambiguity.
I suspect – based on reviews – that there’s a lot to digest in this movie for people familiar with Brazilian politics and that’s great. I’m not one of them so I can only judge it for what I can bring to it. And it’s an interesting take on a sociopolitical scenario and I like that overarching message… it’s the bones of a cool, cynical social critique. Credit due to the plot if not the plotting.
The pace of the movie is just off and I spent more time twiddling my thumbs than I did enjoying the messages or the metaphors. And when the big showdown happens… it was rather disappointing and anti-climactic… not to mention tonally and motivationally confounding for one of the characters.
Certainly an interesting and unique film though. I think it has its audience and they will (and apparently do) enjoy it more than I did.
Score: 75