This film was made in 1995 and so was Antonia's Line and both competed for the best foreign film at the Oscar's.You could even say that both are women's films,although not necessarily.At the time of the film's release I first saw O Quatrilho and then Antonia's.Both are good films,but I can understand why the Brazilian film didn't make it.But that would be comparing two so different films. O Quatrilho was produced and directed by The Barreto family-people that have been involved in the movie making business for all their lives,and O Quatrilho is a good example of their work. The actors and actresses,the main characters are well famous in Brazil's dramaturgy and they deliver good performances.The plot is about Italian immigrants that came to Brazil in late 1800's/early 1900's to start a new life.And many of them went down to the South to work in grape vineyards,mostly.Italians are Catholic and that explains the strong presence of priests in their community. The main story is about two young newlywed couples that are neighbors.Bruno Campos and Patrícia Pillar are the first couple,and Glória Pires and Alexandre Paternost the second.And a major swap takes place.Since the very first glance at the couples we see that they are with the wrong partners.Bruno Campos plays a sophisticated guy married to a rude,down to earth woman (glória Pires),and Paternost is married to Patrícia Pillar,a dreamer,a happy-go-lucky woman that immediately shows (we feel)her discontentment and unhappiness-her husband is pragmatic!The sexual tension starts to build up and they break down their rigid moral/religious code(meaning the characters of Pillar and Campos).The other couple(Pires and Paternost)get the news of the fled of their spouses,and amidst their feelings of wrath,and being scorned,they immediately understand that together they will have the chance of not only surviving(remember that we are talking about a hundred years ago or so,and life was much harder,specially for the people that lived far from the big centers.And they had children of their own to be taken care of).So "the magic of love" straightens everything:the couples get their "right" counterpart then and life goes on.Time passes by.The end shows us Paternost/Pires well established,rich folks(banker) and the other couple happy,looking just happy surrounded by their children for a photograph.It is like THEY had made the right choices despite a possible God's will!And religion/God is shown in a truly cynical way:the priest(portrayed by the excellent Cecil Thiré)condemns Paternost for his "sin" living with "other man's woman" but changes his mind when the "sinner" shows he is prompt to obtain some clearance and starts contributing to the church's new roof! Everything can be forgiven then! A weak point is Ms Pillar's attempt in speaking Italian-she could have practiced much more!The sound track is of high quality and CaetanoVeloso's voice and words keep on singing in our minds!Jaques Morelenbaum also signs it. It is a good film,but again, running in Hollywood against Antonia's Life was bad luck.It didn't diminish the flick though the Dutch production is heavier weight.
Review of O Quatrilho
