Seashore [Beira-Mar] *** (2015, Mateus Almada, Maurício Barcellos, Elisa Brittes, Fernando Hart, Ariel Artur, Francisco Gick, Luisa Moser, Irene Brietzke, Danuta Zaguetto, Maitê Felistoffa) – Classic Movie Review 12,970

Mateus Almada and Maurício Barcellos star as two boys on the edge of adulthood who explore their relationship, in the warm and sympathetic 2015 Brazilian drama film Seashore [Beira-Mar].

Two boys on the edge of adulthood find themselves exploring their relationship, in directors Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon’s warm, wise and sympathetic 2015 Brazilian drama film Seashore [Beira-Mar], starring Mateus Almada and Maurício Barcellos.

Seashore [Beira-Mar] is a personal film, low key, reticent, subtle, emotionally intense, with two very credible and creditable main performances from the boys in question, questioning their lives and in particular their relationship. Like the boys, Seashore [Beira-Mar] is soft and slim but very sweet and charming. Nothing much happens, it is all about the space between the words, long looks and concerned glances.

Friends Martin (Mateus Almada) and Tomaz (Maurício Barcellos set off together on a weekend trip in winter to the coast of Southern Brazil, staying at Martin’s family seaside house. Martin’s difficult father has tasked him with seeking documents in the possession of seemingly hostile and reluctant relatives also living there on the coast. While negotiating that, and partying (with girls!), the two boys young men seek to rekindle their long-term friendship and start to discovery themselves and the world around them, emotionally and sexually.

Martin is a very serious-minded boy, close to Tomaz but not sure how close. Tomaz is softer, gentler, more smiley, more aware, more realised, a bit more gay perhaps. They like each other, a lot, maybe love each other, but also they maybe aren’t made for each other. Or are they? You’ve got to sat that is subtle. As usual, the shore and the sea end up being some kind of metaphor, for the way ahead presumably. Shall we just say that by the end, Martin is a bit at sea but in the swim?

It’s all about the getting of wisdom. Nice. Very nice.

Runtime: 83 minutes.

Country: Brazil Genre: Drama, Romance

Release dates: February 6, 2015 (Berlin International Film Festival) and November 5  2015.

Directors: Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon,

Production: Avante Filmes.

Cast: Mateus Almada as Martin, Maurício Barcellos as Tomaz, Irene Brietzke as Marisa, Elisa Brittes as Natalia, Maitê Felistoffa as Carol, Francisco Gick as Maurício, Fernando Hart as Bento, Danuta Zaguetto as Luíza, Luisa Moser as Rosa, Ariel Artur as Security Guard, Arlyson Gomes as João, Francisco Gick, Luisa Moser, and Maitê Felistoffa.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,970

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