Aquarius

2016 2h 27m PT

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 524

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Clara, a vibrant former music critic and widow with flowing tresses is the only remaining apartment owner in a beautiful older building targeted for demolition by ruthless luxury high-rise developers. Clara proves to be a force to be reckoned with as she thwarts the builders plans to kick her out of the apartment.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Sonia Braga
Clara
Maeve Jinkings
Ana Paula
Irandhir Santos
Roberval
Humberto Carrão
Diego
Zoraide Coleto
Ladjane
Carla Ribas
Cleide
Fernando Teixeira
Geraldo Bonfim
Buda Lira
Antonio

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Writers: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Languages: Portuguese
Countries: Brazil, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 38% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Brazil, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, shot by Fabricio Tadeu. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Eduardo Serrano shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Sonia Braga and Maeve Jinkings and Irandhir Santos carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt5221584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kleber Mendonça Filho directs. Fabricio Tadeu behind the camera. Eduardo Serrano cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Brazil, France. Dialogue in Portuguese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $0.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 38% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 10 years ago.
4International production across 2 countries: Brazil, France.
5Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, shot by Fabricio Tadeu. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Eduardo Serrano shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Sonia Braga and Maeve Jinkings and Irandhir Santos carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt5221584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Fabricio Tadeu
Editing: Eduardo Serrano
Production design: Juliano Dornelles
Costume design: Rita Azevedo
Makeup / hair: Tayce Vale
VFX supervisor: Eduardo Amodio
Runtime: 147 min · 2h 27m
Status: Released
Budget: $762,241
Box office: $285,930
Return: 38% of budget
Original language: PT
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Aquarius (2016)

Also by

Kleber Mendonça Filho

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2017-11-04
★ 7/10
Home is where all the memories preserved. I have to start the review by mentioning the recent year Russian film 'Durak', also known as 'The Fool' in English. In the same year, another similar themed Russian film, 'Leviathan' got nominated for the Oscars. What those both films highlighted were not just the corruptions, but the threats the common people face. Raising voice for good against evil is still a distant for such potential country. Here comes the Brazilian version. This is not on the same level. I meant the intensity of the event, how all folds. Nevertheless, the same core issue in a different continent. This film met with several controversies. One of them omitted it from the Oscars race. But the film was received well from all the quarters. I did not find any issue. I thought it became unfortunate victim, especially, could be because of the developers and their connection with the corrupt powerful men. It's neither a masterpiece. I just consider it a good film. A message film. But not for everyone. Particularly, it is good for grownups viewing for the reason I'll going mention later. The story of the 65 year old Clara. Her life has been successful being a music critic. Now a widow, and all her children settled down. It opened on her birthday where all the friends and family gathered to celebrate the occasion. Living alone in a small and beautiful beach view apartment. But the thing is she's the last one who still in that old building. Everyone had left it when the developers decided to demolish it and build a modern one. She's fighting to save the heritage. All her memories lie in there. But the developers have a different plan to force her out, and that's the remaining film to unfold how and other following developments. ❝So when you like it, it's 'vintage'. If you don't like it, it's 'old'. Right?❞ The opening scene was a slight offbeat. Because right away it does not reveal who is the person of the film. Besides, some of the odd scenes in the middle would raise some eyebrows. Those were not actually the full fledged scenes, but glimpses that goes back to like the 70s or something. The idea of those parts were not properly understandable, but I think it is about missing those good times. The lone fighter concept was inspiring. At one point, when everybody around her thought that she's making an unnecessary scene out of it, she was firm on her decision and did what has to be done. This was one of those films I did not like it on the spot. But slowly captivated. Once it's focus was fixed on one particular character, the rest of the tale set forward on what it wanted to tell us. As I understood it, it was not exactly about corruption, except a part of it was. It was the fight for ones right. A fight to save the past. On the other hand, the people from her opposite are ready to take extreme steps to defeat her. That's where it gets into the controversy. The controversy of those stupid tricks used to achieve the goal. This kind of a film coming from Brasil is really wonderful to educate poor knowledge people who easily become victims in a similar fashion. It was a French-Brasil collaboration film. I'm reviewing it after a couple of days of my watch. Because I wanted to think about it for a while, scene by scene. The more I recall, the more I'm starting to like it. So I advise same to you as well that don't come to any conclusion just after you have watched. Because it could not be what you have heard about it. My only issue was the runtime. The 150 minutes were a too long. But manageable if you watch regularly, such slow films. Well written, directed and acted. Even the location was ideal. But they could have avoided the those sex scenes which I earlier labelled them as odd scenes. There were too many, even camera pans out from somewhere far away in the bush. Kind of unrelated. I am not against such an idea, as human daily life filled with those. But when the theme was seriously pivoting on a serious issue, these came as distraction. Why I'm pointing out that strongly is that a fine film like this should be for all ages, even for teenagers. It missed that opportunity. Otherwise and still a nice drama film to recommend the adults. 7/10

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