Five years on the run and it was worth waiting (I've been hearing about it ever since the pandemic when there was never a year of
release attached to it). "Aumenta que é Rock'n'Roll" chronicles the development of radio Fluminense FM with its brodcast of rock music in the
early 1980's when the genre wasn't so popular but always had a loyal fanbase. The programming not only included English/American classic rock, but
it also launched the careers of Brazilian rock artists such as Cazuza, Blitz, Legião Urbana, Paralamas do Sucesso, among others.
A Maldita ("The Damned) as it was known, was idealized by two youngsters who wanted to change the music scene, to present what the youth generation of the 1980's liked, thought and consumed. They were Luiz Antonio Mello and Samuel Wainer Filho (Samuca), played by Johnny Massaro and George Sauma, respectively, two rock enthusiasts that were offered the opportunity to bring something new to Radio Fluminense on the FM waves and bring audience and profits to the station which was falling apart both in audience and its precarious installations of broken windows and faulty equipment. As novelty, Luiz has the fixed idea of not repeating songs during broadcast on the course of a day, and he only hired female broadcasters, a rare feat at the time (even today, I must say).
What comes is a series of humor and drama revolving on Luiz and his team finding ways to charm audience, his boss and potential sponsors doing so much with very little. And also time for a little romance with Alice (Marina Provenzzano), a stubborn but hard-working broadcaster. It serves its cinematic purpose, but I didn't care for it all that much.
The film's greatest asset comes from the period depicted (1982-1985) and how music, society, culture and politics went through a tremendous multitude of changes, and how that little radio was part of that, later on becoming a phenomenon when they get the opportunity to cover the first Rock in Rio. It's an authentic film, and very idealist when it comes to its depiction of that youth, and it's done in such a charming, nice manner that one would want to be part of that, or have that kind of similar experience where you suffer with countless problems, little to no money yet you have all the best comrades, and you have fun while doing everything.
It's not like it's showing anything so wildly new to the genre of biopics or the radio media, but it certainly charms the audiences very easily, and once you're invested in it nothing can stop you from enjoyment. The appeal it got me was in witnessing the early days of the many bands I love to hear, the soundtrack from many hits from the decade and the new themes composed by Dado-Villa Lobos; and it's all done with great enthusiasm.
Plus, it was an untold story that needed to be put on screen.
You care about the characters even when they're being totally erratic, and there's plenty of room for laughter (my favorite bit is the broadcast with the hot mic on and the female broadcasters are trashing their boss and talking about sex toys, much to the despair of everyone). The wholeheartedly speech made by Massaro when presenting the project to his staff, the importance of being considered "damned", a contrarian, is also another fun highlight, just as the superintendent character played by Orã Figueiredo, the serious guy in the story, who has some funny bits, and he's the one that despite apparent opposition, deep down you know he trusts Luiz and believes in his passion for this new radio.
To those who lived the era or are enthusiasts of that particular musical scene, it's a must-see film without regrets. But a warning: there are a couple of anachronisms that might bother the most careful viewer, some were done as an artistic licence but others were mistaken done during editing and/or lack of better research; or maybe bother with the cliched acts of the rock artists featured. All in all, a very nostalgic time travel to the colorful dreams and ideals of freedom, expression, love and, obviously, rock n'roll. 9/10.
A Maldita ("The Damned) as it was known, was idealized by two youngsters who wanted to change the music scene, to present what the youth generation of the 1980's liked, thought and consumed. They were Luiz Antonio Mello and Samuel Wainer Filho (Samuca), played by Johnny Massaro and George Sauma, respectively, two rock enthusiasts that were offered the opportunity to bring something new to Radio Fluminense on the FM waves and bring audience and profits to the station which was falling apart both in audience and its precarious installations of broken windows and faulty equipment. As novelty, Luiz has the fixed idea of not repeating songs during broadcast on the course of a day, and he only hired female broadcasters, a rare feat at the time (even today, I must say).
What comes is a series of humor and drama revolving on Luiz and his team finding ways to charm audience, his boss and potential sponsors doing so much with very little. And also time for a little romance with Alice (Marina Provenzzano), a stubborn but hard-working broadcaster. It serves its cinematic purpose, but I didn't care for it all that much.
The film's greatest asset comes from the period depicted (1982-1985) and how music, society, culture and politics went through a tremendous multitude of changes, and how that little radio was part of that, later on becoming a phenomenon when they get the opportunity to cover the first Rock in Rio. It's an authentic film, and very idealist when it comes to its depiction of that youth, and it's done in such a charming, nice manner that one would want to be part of that, or have that kind of similar experience where you suffer with countless problems, little to no money yet you have all the best comrades, and you have fun while doing everything.
It's not like it's showing anything so wildly new to the genre of biopics or the radio media, but it certainly charms the audiences very easily, and once you're invested in it nothing can stop you from enjoyment. The appeal it got me was in witnessing the early days of the many bands I love to hear, the soundtrack from many hits from the decade and the new themes composed by Dado-Villa Lobos; and it's all done with great enthusiasm.
Plus, it was an untold story that needed to be put on screen.
You care about the characters even when they're being totally erratic, and there's plenty of room for laughter (my favorite bit is the broadcast with the hot mic on and the female broadcasters are trashing their boss and talking about sex toys, much to the despair of everyone). The wholeheartedly speech made by Massaro when presenting the project to his staff, the importance of being considered "damned", a contrarian, is also another fun highlight, just as the superintendent character played by Orã Figueiredo, the serious guy in the story, who has some funny bits, and he's the one that despite apparent opposition, deep down you know he trusts Luiz and believes in his passion for this new radio.
To those who lived the era or are enthusiasts of that particular musical scene, it's a must-see film without regrets. But a warning: there are a couple of anachronisms that might bother the most careful viewer, some were done as an artistic licence but others were mistaken done during editing and/or lack of better research; or maybe bother with the cliched acts of the rock artists featured. All in all, a very nostalgic time travel to the colorful dreams and ideals of freedom, expression, love and, obviously, rock n'roll. 9/10.
