Lavoura Arcaica (2001)

English title: To the Left of the Father.

Synopsis: The intermediary son of an agrarian family flees home and his elder brother goes after him and finds him. Based on the novel by Raduan Nassar (1st ed. 1975).

Appraisal: As has already been pointed out around the time of its cinematic release, this film is totally subservient to the source novel, being flooded by omnipresent voiceover and extremely verbose dialogue (or monologue, as is perhaps the case at times). I haven't read the source novel but, based on Nassar's novella Um Copo de Cólera, which I have, and on what is heard and seen in this film, both his style and plots seem parodic (or self-parodic, perhaps) to me. I seem to be the only one who thinks that way; this filmmaker, for one, surely doesn't, judging by the evidence of the "quality TV" gloss with which he imbues the movie, and of which he is the certified King. Here and there, real emotion seeps in, as in the scene of André by the farm's gate, being regarded by his mother.

Rating: 33