Name: Augustas
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1 h 23 min
Rating: 5.7
Cast: Mario Bortolotto, Caroline Abras, Maira Chasseroux

The street is an amazing lead character in this weird movie

Augusta Street is one of the hottest spots in São Paulo that manages to unite all social classes, many walks of life and peculiar realities.

It's a cultural shock with countless businesses, but it's mostly known for the late night bars and their non-stop movement, a great place to have happy hour at practically any hour of the clock. Here in this movie the streets and its diversity is seen through the eyes of decadent reporter Alex (Mario Bortolotto) who lives in the area and he's constantly torn apart between obsessions: his devotion to a prostitute (Caroline Abras) of which he's a regular costumer, and the mystical Azúcar (Maira Chasseroux), with her Shamanism rituals that presents some visions to the man.

The story, if there is one with beginning, middle and ending is not important. The heart of the matter is in seeing how Alex and the other characters blend into the place, how they connect with each other and the street which is the main character, mostly filmed at night where everything and anything can happen. If you're looking for a conventional film where there are thrills and actions or some major change into a charmless leading man then look elsewhere. He's a womanizer, irresponsible and hardly sympathetic, and the small characters that attract our attention, like the pimp/security man played by Juliano Cazarré or the guy who links Alex to Azúcar (played by Milhem Cortaz) are quite reduced.

It's a mere case of style over substance yet it entertain us very easily. While the story is somewhat pathetic, without depth except for the visions Alex suffers throughout the film, the visuals and how the city and the street is presents is authentic, almost like a documentary and it's great to look. Veteran cinematographer Aloysio Raulino was a true master in capturing the street scenes of São Paulo as evidenced in his countless short documentaries and the feature "Noites Paraguayas" and he really knew how to film the city with its countless contrasts and different places.

It has the feel of a documentary except that we have actors interacting in the surroundings, much like many French New Wave filmmakers did back in the day, you capture the essence of a place and build a story within.

Some comedic moments and some bizarre sequences as well also make the film worth seeing, but don't expect much change on Alex patterns and behaviors throughout the story. I'd threw some danger, more excitment and more challenges to the character in order to improve the lack of story development. Because the whole atmosphere of the scenario is amazing and doesn't disappoint. 6/10.

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)

On mythical Augusta Street, in San Paulo (Brazil), a journalist who seeks answers for his angst dives into the world of prostitution and neo-Shamanism rituals.

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Augustas

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