Name: Prova de Fogo
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Rating: 5.2
Cast: Maitê Proença, Pedro Paulo Rangel, Ivan de Almeida

Affected with many problems, slightly interesting

This analysis might get a little lost in translation, confusing perhaps, as the designations existing when it comes to the spiritual world and their interference/presence on a man's life was painfully confusing in "Prova de Fogo" ("Proof of Fire"), and only those with a deep knowledge on the topics of medium, psychics and the umbanda religion will find a safeplace; but never a powerful film. I didn't like, but there were honorable things in it to make me somewhat respect it.

Marco Altberg's directorial debut has its moments, but it certainly alienates inexperienced viewers with a mix of unintenional comedy and a lack of seriousness while telling the story of a hard-working young man (Pedro Paulo Rangel) who discovers his path in life when he receives spiritual sights and he tries to conduct a triple life as: a spiritual guide, a bank teller and a college student. He finds a purpose in life, helping others (but we never quite sure as to exactly how he helps) but he also cannot quit the physical things that can allow one to live: study and work.

Above the forementioned problem since I couldn't tell apart what he does with the umbanda (the works) and the spiritual guidance that had similar routines as spiritism has, what killed the movie was the lack of strong supporting characters, as if Mauro (the lead) was a completely empty person without anyone interesting around him, nothing but study and work and then he's hit by a shock of lightning, a terrifying but enlightning vision. The people who show up in his life are some women, one of them also a guide who falls in love with him but there's never an approach, she simply gives up; and a famous politician desperatly wanting to be state's governor - a very belivable scenario, but again not much of a payoff.

And many pointless sex scenes that try hard to have a point - except for the gay sadist who tortured a male friend of Mauro, and because of that there's a funny work at play. Speaking of the works, I did not see a seriousness in dealing with the rituals, the parties. I know the makers intentions in creating a serious work; but it looked funny and lame at times. And with characters poorly constructed and situations badly written, everything looked authentic but never interesting or worth seeing.

However, Mauro is a compelling character and it's a fine way to get to know the talent of a veteran like Rangel. You feel the pain and glory of a man destined to fulfill a higher purpose in life while balancing everything he did before. He doesn't reject what was known previously but he knows that keeping everything can collapse. Without guidance, he's just a common man; with help and learn, he finds a meaning and he's good with those new teachings. Not sure if I totally buy that this new life is what really mattered; probably the film's confusing presentation didn't allow me to comprehend the change, and if there were exact gains. 5/10.

Portuguese-language cinema, spanning Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, focuses on history, cultural identity, and the struggles of ordinary people, often framed with poetic or allegorical storytelling. In Portugal, cinema has emphasized meditative pacing and philosophical depth, reflecting on memory and tradition. In Brazil, it has often been politically charged and socially vibrant, highlighting inequality and resilience while experimenting with popular and avant-garde forms.

Alexandre Rodrigues in City of God (2002)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

Young man leaves his job at a bank to devote himself to being a psychic.

Luiz Carlos Barreto Produções Cinematográficas

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Prova de Fogo

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