tauszig Reviews

Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (2005 TV Movie)

A regular usual comedy - but with an unacceptable error

[5/10 · 10 November 2007]

This movie is not a real high performance film, but it is a very usual kind of story, which even has some funny moments. However, what makes its score lower, is a complete lack of a minimum cultural knowledge, especially about Brazil. In a certain point of the movie Christine Baransky (Lee Bellmont in the film) says that she loves the Brazilians, and especially the music of "salsa" - which demonstrates an absolute lack of knowledge of the Brazilian music: salsa is not, and never has been, Brazilian. Later in the same movie, they arrive to the place where it is supposed to have Brazilian dance music, and what you can hear is mambo and tango - none of them having any Brazilian connection (the real one would be the samba, or maybe the bossa-nova etc..). As mentioned, this lack of knowledge is unacceptable for a movie made in 2005, and by USA producers which are in the same American continent with the other Latin American countries. This fact about the film, reduces any scoring, not only for the error, but because it shows that the film makers has no reasonable cultural worries (and possible knowledge) thought working in a "cultural" environment. Therefore, the good acting of the stars are compromised by the inaccuracy of what should be everyday medium level education.

Un passeport Hongrois (2001 Video)

An excellent documentary, reflecting a frequent story to many

[8/10 · 9 July 2006]

This documentary reflects a story that did happen to many people, not only from Brasil, but to those who were descending from immigrant families. The director Mrs. Kogut, is specially good in telling the story, because were facts that happened to herself. The movie shows how the bureaucracies of 3 different locations, in 3 different countries, can make some actions that appear to be simple, not so easy or straight. Besides of telling a true story, Sandra Kogut makes a demonstration, and a kind of critics, to the diplomatic and state workers all around the world to accomplish some easy-looking tasks. A curious point of the film is its multilingual characteristics, with dialogs in Portuguese (when showing the dialogs in Brasil), English (with her family in Hungary), Hungarian (the families speaking among themselves)and French (spoken with Hungarian Embassy in Paris). The copy I saw, had the subtitles into Portuguese, so everybody could follow the story. It as an excellent example to each one who sees this film to make his own judgment. Another nice point is that the film has some beautiful panorama from all the countries where the action happens. In summary a good documentary film, with an interesting theme, done with good professionalism.

Vigilante Rodoviário (1959– )

A classical of the old times TV in Brasil

[7/10 · 9 July 2006]

This series was a very simple expression, with very limited resources in the Brazilian TV. However, considering the time and the available resources, not only in Brasil, but also worldwide (speaking of the fifties) it has been a considerable accomplishment. The series started Brazilian film series in TV, and brought some good educational examples for the spectator. Avoided heavier violence, and it was well directed to young audience. The curious fact is that the main actor, became actually a road police. The series also reflected the Brasil of the 50's, when the country was basically an undeveloped area, but with some interesting features. In summary, all the Brazilians born before 1950 shall remember this series as a good memory, and the film has pioneered its time.