Vai~E~Vem (2003)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

João César Monteiro

Writer:

João César Monteiro (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

3 June 2003 (Portugal)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Bus | Circular Traveling | Satire | Film Within A Film | Old Man

Awards:

1 win

Cast

João César Monteiro	...	João Vuvu
Rita Pereira Marques	...	Adriana / Urraca
Joaquina Chicau	...	Custódia
Manuela de Freitas	...	Fausta
Ligia Soares	...	Narcisa (as Lígia Soares)
José Mora Ramos	...	M. Zé Aniceto
Rita Durão	...	Jacinta
Maria Do Carmo Rôlo	...	Bárbara
Miguel Borges	...	Jorge Varela Vuvu
Rita Loureiro	...	Marina
Ana Isabel Strindberg
Tiago Diaz	...	Mudo do Acordeão
Ana Brandão	...	Eva Sigar
Rui Luís	...	Padre
Vítor Silva Tavares

Also Known As:

Come and Go (International: English title)
Coming and Going (International: English title)
Va et vient (France)
Vai e Vem (Portugal) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Portugal:179 min

Country:

Portugal | France

Language:

Portuguese | Ukrainian | Spanish | Latin | Greek

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Príncipe Real Plaza, Lisbon, Portugal

Company:

Madragoa Filmes

Goofs:

Continuity: When speaking with policewoman Bárbara, João smashes and throws an empty pack of cigarettes to the floor, and it rolls under the table. After opening the door to let Jorge in, João returns to the table starting a new cigarette and there is no empty pack under it.

Movie Connections:

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

Unique! It's life! (possible spoilers, but I don't think so...)

More than the fact that this is a filmed testament from the dying director, this movie is a lesson of life. Life and cinema showed by someone who knew both very well. It's not a lesson of moral, things are sometimes weird, so this is a complete, pertinent, not hiding anything, and leading us to all kind of enjoyment. Pleasure and contemplation are always showed with a kind of nostalgia. Also, some plans are really interesting to watch and shows a way of filming, and of seeing life very difficult to show (except in painting). Playing with different factors, (rhythm, time, some objects) it's showing this Beyond all objectivity, or with an objectivity beyond objects... Monteiro is playing with our senses...

I agree it can be difficult to watch, because it's long, slow, without a lot of cuts, neither a lot of movements, everything is done with long plans. But all that is the rhythm of an old guy watching life, and having his last pleasures, and taking time to have it. It's an ode to life in all its ways. I've never written any comments on this sites (only on message boards) but I had to write something about this one. This movie is really special and intense, (and in a soft way, what is strange...).

Until the last plan which put the character, the director, and us to eternity... (I won't say more about this plan, but it has to be seen...)