Policarpo Quaresma, Herói do Brasil (1997)

"Policarpo Quaresma" is based on a same name book that I haven't read, but I believe I'll have to for school. This movie delivers very fine performances by Paulo Jose and Giulia Gam, but the directing is not very effective and the screenplay is quite a mess.

The film tells the misadventures of a very patriot man on the 19th century, who thinks that the tupi language, talked by the indians before the Portuguese men arrived here, has to be the official language of Brazil. He is arrested, is sent to a mental institution, but still keeps his ideas.

The film aims to be a comedy, but it doesn't works as that because of its slow pace and the lack of some dramatic moments to equalize the funny ones. It is also uneven: sometimes it is an old period picture, in others is a mental institution film, and even a soap opera sometimes. Overall, it didn't keep my interest in most of the times, but it is almost a worth seeing because of the great acting and the very interesting premise. I just wish the result had been as interesting as.

6 out of 10 = HITS AND MISSES FILM