Rather surprisingly, Suzano (Johnny Massaro) returns from France to his hometown in Brazil shortly before New Years Eve 1982 to spend some days with his sister Maura (Clara Choveaux) and his nephew Muriel (Alex Bonin), but despite many invitations to celebrate New Years Eve itself with his friends in the town's booming gay community, he more and more clams up and makes a disappearing act on the last day of the year. Only weeks later Muriel bumps into Suzano, but Suzano seems to be dying, and even though his nephew rushes him to the hospital, he dies on the way, and has the doctors of the place in a panic, as it's apparently the first case of this new disease, Aids, in town and nobody knows how to deal with it. It's only later that Maura and Muriel find out where Suzano has actually spent his last weeks, as he has teamed up with trans performer Rose (Renata Carvalho) and cameraman Humberto (Victor Camilo), both also infected, to document his decline for the sake of posterity ...

A very heart-felt drama that really hits it home with audiences thanks to its light-footed approach despite its very serious subject matter, but it's really the brighter spots and splashes of colour that draw one in and make the thing relatable - but be warned, the film has its fair share of depressing moments as well. And yet, thanks to a clever structural twist the film still manages to end on a high note. And a subtle directorial effort and a uniformly solid cast this has turned out to be a very engaging and also actually pretty entertaining movie.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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