A video project focused in showing the many diverse types of dances and cultures inside the giant city of São Paulo, covering all different areas from the city, and how
people from many social background and different ages are connected through the art of dance. Cool idea and nostalgic view of the early 1990's but the film itself lacks in
giving a more insightful perspective rather than just seeing dance moves.
I think that if it had been cut to half of its running time, I might find it somewhat enjoyable or
even interesting to follow. But most of it, it comes and goes very randomly and we don't have a single interview with the attendees of each of the dance clubs, seniors
clubs or the samba school to talk about what they enjoy about dancing, both as a social/cultural representation or also about as a dating thing (as the early introduction
from the film talks about the mating dance coming from animals as a powerful representation tool). Plus, they didn't even got a gay club, which I think IS the ultimate thing
besides the boring couples featured, being the one most interesting an old man quoting that if his wife find out about the footage she'd kill him.
Sure, one can get a full view of the many dancing cultures presented, from old school themes, amazingly presented in the light of day unlike the many other clubs, to
pop/rock, 1990's funk (so much cooler than today, which revolves around just explicit language and sex moves but very ugly to see) or more in tune with the mood of the era
like the booming sertanejo movement of the early 1990's, and north, south, east, west and center of São Paulo dancing places are featured, so for those who lived the era and
went to some of those places it can be a nostalgic trip to the past (with the exception of the samba school, most likely all of those places either closed down or changed of
name or business - they're all identified in the movie). The only one that got me curious was the one from Jardins (yeah I know, it's the rich spot, baby) since they had a
pop/electronic feel to it and as a background they had a huge screen showing Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing and somehow their classy moves found ways to match with
the sound of Lisa Stansfield playing and the crowd feels enthusiastic about it.
Truth is I didn't feel much of a connection with it, it's all very dark and repetitive, and in some places the attendees were mugging for the camera, in one
particular case a patron was escorted out of the dance floor for...I could not tell exactly, and some collages of a partiular instance/theme can be affected if you're not
creating curiosity. I wasn't much curious after a while, except for 1990's fashion (awfully dated and so poor looking) and a somewhat respectful manner guys and girls, from all
ages were with each other and it all seems to look that it was a lot more about the dance act than a potential sex act, and I was mystified about that - or at least it is
the impression that one gets (I think there was only couple making out, the others were in it just to make some dance moves and impress each other on the dance floor).
It might work best for those who lived similar times and those who enjoy seeing the many rhythms, how people connect with each other through dance and words are not
needed. Well, I needed a little of those. 5/10.