Praça Saens Peña (2008) Reviews

• Book, Dreams and Infidelity, but Life Goes on

  claudio_carvalho2011-10-07

  In Rio de Janeiro, the teacher Paulo Barbosa (Chico Diaz) of São José High-School moves to a rented apartment in Praça Saens Peña in Tijuca when his wife Teresa (Maria Padilha) is pregnant. Years later, Paulo still works in the same high-school where his daughter Bel (Isabella Meirelles) also studies. Teresa works in a coffee shop and the low- middle class family has financial difficulties but and affectionate life. When Paulo is invited to write a book about Tijuca in a short schedule, Teresa dreams on buying an apartment for the family and convinces Paulo to go with her to visit a flat in Usina. They are received by the owner João (Gustavo Falcão) but the couple can not afford to buy the apartment. Paulo spends his leisure time writing the book and has no more time for his family. When João meets Teresa in the coffee shop, they have a love affair. Bel is affected by the decisions of her parents, but life goes on. "Praça Saens Peña" is a film that has a promising beginning but falls in a pointless melodrama. Teresa Barbosa has the middle-class dream of having the family's apartment of their own and sees the chance when her husband is invited to write a book. This expectation turns into an infidelity and a drama, destroying the good premise. In addition, the cinematography is terrible and the external shots are awful. The cast has good performances. As a dweller of Tijuca and living pretty close to Praça Saens Peña, I had great expectations with this film but I was disappointed with the story and screenplay. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "Praça Saens Peña" ("Saens Peña Square")

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