Reviews

Carlota Joaquina is a very awkward movie if you watch it without the proper background, for both the production facts and the Brazilian History. Regarding the production facts, the spectator must be aware that this movie was the first movie produced after the Collor Era (the Brazilian President which canceled all the government incentives for the cinema industry). The movie itself is very poorly produced, but very creative in coming up with alternative resources to tell a story when you don't have the money. After a few years with no Brazilian Production, the audience went back to the theaters to watch Carlota Joaquina very hopeful in giving a new impulse to the local productions. Such a impulse was decisive to regain the trust in the Brazilian Cinema Industry, which later was able to regain strength and produce some internationally awarded titles such as The Trespasser, Central Station, Me,You and Them, Yellow Manga, etc. For the historical facts, anyone who doesn't know the Brazilian social structure during the Portuguese dominion may not understand why the people accept such a negligent government, but the facts related in the movie are proved real. It is very hard to understand it even for the Brazilian people. But if even nowadays we can see the most riches countries of the world being governed by inefficient people, what can we say about a colony of Portugal on the last century? So, to watch this movie the spectator need to be aware that will be watching a very decisive production for the Brazilian Cinema, produced in a very complicated time, but with the noble goal of resurrect a very creative sector of Brazilian Cultural life and taking off all the garnishing commonly added to historical facts. Carlota Joaquina goes straight to the facts and tells the story of real people, not false heroes. These are good reasons to watch this movie.