Porto das Caixas
Pretty unique how Saraceni applies such rigorous compositions -- mostly static shots as a way to depict this ghostly town's desolation, where people wander through scattered, abandoned places and ruins and political candidates vomit empty promises; the only place that seems somewhat inviting is the train station, not by coincidence a way to get the hell outta there -- to a classic existential story -- woman trying to free herself from a nightmarish marriage, longing to live by her own terms and means -- within a very Cinema Novo theme -- poverty and politics, the impossibility of having a good life in a doomed, brutal country. Gotta love how she uses a very patriarchal tool of dominance -- violence -- to overcome her unhappiness and try to escape patriarchy itself, at least for a while. The guy who works at the local bar, the barber, the young soldier. Harrowing last 15 minutes, when she realizes she was on her own the whole time. Delightful music by Tom Jobim. And Carneiro's cinematography, just wow.
Mini Review: Pretty unique how Saraceni applies such rigorous compositions -- mostly static shots as a way to depict this ghostly town's desolation, where people wander through abandoned places and ruins and candidates brag about their empty promises; the only place that seems somewhat inviting is the train station, not by coincidence a way to escape -- to a classic modern film story -- woman trying to free herself from a nightmarish marriage, longing to be free -- within a very Cinema Novo theme -- poverty.