Name: O Jogo da Vida e da Morte
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1 h 35 min
Rating: 6.8
Cast: Odete Lara, Juca de Oliveira, Walter Cruz

Hamlet Brazilian style is very good and creative

This free adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic play "Hamlet", brought to the context of Brazilian society, was a clever and inspired version of the tragedy and one that allows the audience unfamiliar with the original story to follow it without difficulties. To the die-hard fans of the play, it might look funny (but there's some intentional humor in it) and weird due to its peculiar new setting, but it does not betray the Englishman's moral and intentions.

Instead of something rotten happening in the kingdom of Denmark, we have families living in a poor community of São Paulo, Brazil and even with background, there's a power struggle going on. A patriarch has died and his beautiful wife (Odete Lara) married his brother Cláudio (Juca de Oliveira), a man who runs some shady businesses we don't know much yet there's power and money involved. Hamlet is turned into João (Walter Cruz), and the melancholic young heir receives the visit of his deceased father through a medium, and the man wants revenge. But the duality of life, to be or not to be, so many doubts to intrigue and posses João about what to do next, which affects his romantic moves with Ofélia (Yô Braga).

Far from the glory of kings and their castles, we have poor houses and shackles, samba schools performances, capoiera and knife fights, seances, frightening and symbolic visions, sex and drugs. But it's still Shakespeare's "Hamlet", with many of the iconic moments being recreated in a different fashion and different translation. The samba round used to bring a reaction from Cláudio related to the crime against his brother was interestingly made and very suspenseful.

"O Jogo da Vida e da Morte" ("The Game of Life and Death") also works outside of Shakespeare's writings. You can watch it as a tragic drama about a man in search for answers, noticing that the family around him was full of betrayal, no one was to be trusted except some of his best friends. However, seeing the story without thinking about the play, it goes as a social violent drama with some supernatural elements, of limited enjoyment. Best case scenario about the public who haven't seen the play or the countless versions of it, it'll definitely make you interested in everything related with "Hamlet".

If knowing about the play, it becomes a fun experience in guessing what kind of changes and updates the filmmakers would bring the old story into a 1970's setting, if they work nice or not.

I can totally envision a remake of this film in Brazil's settings about the world of drug dealer factions and rap battles to unmask the traitor. At least, the power struggle would feel more believable than this take - it's hard to understand why Cláudio and Gertrudes would be involved because the riches aren't so evident, and his only visible interest comes in having a very beautiful woman by his side.

Mário Kuperman's film also brings many great performances, most notably Juca de Oliveira as the villain and he's more of a leading man than the hero of the story. The little known Walter Cruz as João/Hamlet delivers something strange to the role, almost unlikable. Can't say if it's a script problem that turned the character into someone slightly crazed and far too humored, or if it's the actor going that way, instead of being the face of mourning and despair.

Supporting players are quite enjoyable on scene.

Overall, a creative and gripping free adaptation, of great taste. 8/10.

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)

A teenager hears through a medium the voice of his father, who accuses his brother of murdering him. He confirms his suspicions of his uncle, and decides to retaliate, but kills the wrong man, triggering a terrible game of life and death.

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Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Walter Cruz and Odete Lara in O Jogo da Vida e da Morte (1972)

Odete Lara in O Jogo da Vida e da Morte (1972)

Walter Cruz in O Jogo da Vida e da Morte (1972)

Yolanda Braga and Walter Cruz in O Jogo da Vida e da Morte (1972)

Chocolate in O Jogo da Vida e da Morte (1972)

O Jogo da Vida e da Morte

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