Contra Todos (2003)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Roberto Moreira

Writer:

Roberto Moreira (writer)

Release Date:

21 April 2004 (Macau)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

"Contra Todos" is a story about the lies, treachery and vengeance of a middle-class family living on the outskirts of São Paulo. Four characters try desperately to change their lives, but are unable to escape their destiny.

Plot Keywords:

São Paulo | Brazil | Nudity | Sex | Extramarital Affair

Awards:

12 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Leona Cavalli	...	Cláudia
Sílvia Lourenço	...	Soninha
Ailton Graça	...	Waldomiro
Giulio Lopes	...	Teodoro
Martha Meola	...	Terezinha
Dionísio Neto	...	Lindoval
Gustavo Machado	...	Marcão
Paula Pretta	...	Claudete
Ismael de Araújo	...	Júlio
Laís Marques	...	Regina
Waterloo Gregório	...	Luiz
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alessandro Azevedo	...	Tião
Sergio Cavalcante	...	Irmão Terezinha
Elder Fraga	...	Rapaz do bar
Sérgio Pardal	...	Líder dos Carecas
Fernando Petelinkar	...	Vendedor de carro

Also Known As:

Up Against Them All (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

Hong Kong:95 min | Argentina:95 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:18 | Hong Kong:III | Philippines:R-18 (re-rating) | Philippines:X (original rating) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Company:

Coração da Selva

so far the best Brazilian film of this year

Brazilian films often get more positive appraisals than they actually deserve. Rather incredibly, Contra Todos (Against Everybody) (original title, which the producers discarded: God Against Everybody) got very low GPA (grade point average) in this website. It seems to be bluntly rejected by female spectators at large. Actually, it is not so brutal. I mean as far as graphical violence is concerned. Its brutality is intrinsic as it portrays would-be lumpens, I mean underdog citizens who in fact possess high-tech equipment, who coldly perform murder orders in exchange of "grana graúda". Is this post-modern man? Is his/her only worry a quick, almost impersonal, ultra permissive lay, amidst over satiating meals ? The picture is probably the best Brazilian film of 2004, so far. Its shining editing style, à la Godard, its curious soundtrack counterpoints, its more than efficient overall cast and, above all, its original narration, with subtle non-chronological hidden points that only come to light in the epilogue, deserve at least an 8 mark.