Ó Paí, Ó (2007)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Monique Gardenberg

Writers:

Monique Gardenberg (writer)
Márcio Meirelles (play)

Release Date:

30 March 2007 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

During the Carnival in the historical site of Pelourinho (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil), we follow the lives of the tenants of a falling-to-pieces tenement house who try to get by using creativity, irony, humor and music. |

Plot Keywords:

Carnival | Brazil | Capoeira | Camdoblé Religion | Brazilian Culture

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Lázaro Ramos	...	Roque
Dira Paes	...	Psilene
Wagner Moura	...	Boca
Stênio Garcia	...	Seu Jerônimo
Luciana Souza	...	Dona Joana
Emanuelle Araújo	...	Rosa
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jamile Alves	...	Professora
Cidnei Aragão	...	Peixe Frito
Lyu Arisson	...	Yolanda
Merry Batista	...	Dalva
Érico Brás	...	Reginaldo
Edvana Carvalho	...	Lúcia
Mateus Ferreira da Silva	...	Mateus
Felipe Fernandes	...	Damião
Natália Garcez	...	Lia
Lázaro Machado	...	Pastor
Rejane Maia	...	Baiana
Gustavo Mello	...	Policial Rato
Margareth Menezes	...	Herself
Daniela Mercury	...	Herself
Vinícius Nascimento	...	Cosme
Nauro Neves	...	Lord Black
Nívea Pita	...	Fiel Possuída
Virginia Rodrigues	...	Biocentão
Auristela Sá	...	Carmem
Leno Sacramento	...	Raimundinho
Cristóvão Silva	...	Negócio Torto
Valdinéia Soriano	...	Maria
Telma Souza	...	Feirante
Tatau	...	Himself - Araketu Band's Lead Singer
Tânia Tôko	...	Neuzão da Rocha
Cássia Vale	...	Mãe Raimunda
Jorge Washington	...	Matias

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Company:

Dueto Filmes

Trivia:

Part of the shooting was made during the Carnival in Salvador, including the parade of the "trios elétricos" (sound cars where the big bands perform).

Soundtrack:

Ralé

Agree with most of review above

O Pai O veers wildly between genres, and the end simply falls into melodrama and fails.

My only disagreement with the Debblys's (sorry if I misspelled) comment above is that I do think much of the musical soundtrack is good--although not always well-sung by the characters. Caetano Veloso's title song over the end credits (the film is produced by his ex-wife Paula Lavigne) is particularly appealing and catchy. Still, just because I love Bahia so much, I had fun looking at familiar places and listening to the music. I just wish the film had been better. Monique Gartenberg has done some excellent concert videos, but she didn't succeed here.