For all that they show of the city of Lisbon, the filmmakers reveal little about the characters. We hear talk about how difficult city life is for those coming from the country, but we don't actually see it. In the second half of the film, the lead male character has a sudden change of attitude and behavior that seemingly comes out of nowhere and is never explained. And the ending comes from even farther afield and is an insult to the viewer. Yes, the the cinematography is beautiful, but there's nothing there there. Considering the hype, this was a big disappointment.
Plot summary
19-year-old Julio has just left the provinces to settle down in the outskirts of Lisbon. He lives in a poor area with his uncle Afonso and starts working as an apprentice shoemaker. At the shop he gets to know Ilda, a young housemaid and regular customer. Ilda is pretty, joyful, and modern, and Julio falls for her. The two young people, although very different from each other, embark on an idyll.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
All Style and No Substance
Gorgeous but Bad Ending
Now that's beautiful filmmaking. The words "cinematography" don't do justice to the visual splendour on show here. It's not just that the shots are well-composed and the locations beautiful (we see some of Lisbon's abundant architectural and natural beauty) --there's a sense of atmosphere that pervades the whole film and makes every shot feel emotional, meaningful. The pace is leisurely, just right, and along with the low-key story helps us soak it all in. I also have to nod towards the beautiful string accompaniment, never intrusive but always lovely.
But the ending... (I promise no spoilers). I was willing to go along with the story, which is a bit thin but works great as a pretext for the visuals and atmosphere. But we never really understand the characters. We just see them go on with their lives. The ending just seems to come out of nowhere in a totally gratuitous way. It's the kind of thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, lowers my opinion of the people behind the camera, and makes it hard for me to recommend it to others without reservations. But all the same, it's a beautiful little neorealist gem.
Love and insecurity
Men and how they love. Insecure men and their insecurities. Nothing is dangerous than the weak men and what they are capable of. Falling in the pit falls of love. We have to understand love is different for everybody. Skips many parts in between but gets clearer afterwards. Cinematography is brilliant. Actress has done a good job.