Waking up early was never a biological possibility for me. I am a nocturnal animal, not in the glamorous, romantic sense, but in that animal category made up of people for whom breakfast is a mild form of torture. The world insists on calling “morning” a period that to me is just a natural sequence of dawning. “Lunch” is a social fantasy, a time when I’m still trying to remember my name.
- Pedro Pacifico: What should I feel?
- Joaquim Ferreira dos Santos: Gastronomy is a new pharmacy
I adjust for comfort when I travel, and I had to adjust a lot when my kids were little, but the truth is, I don’t do any activity until noon. I have an unhealthy envy of those who wake up at five in the morning and at six are already running around Lagoa. I know these people exist because sometimes, before I go to sleep, I look out the window and find them already there, full of purpose and energy.
I’m telling you all this so you have an idea of what it was like to leave the house on a Monday morning to go to the movies.
But then why did you go?
I went because Lucie Barretto called me. When the mother of Brazilian cinema wants you to see a movie, go watch it.
In other circumstances, Betrayal of Friends would not have gotten me out of the house, even at a time compatible with life: it is essentially a young adult story, the story of two friends barely out of adolescence, who fight over a boy, grow apart and grow in different directions.
Despite this, I quickly liked the film. The relationship between the friends develops smoothly and intelligently in the screenplay written by Thalita Reboukas and Marcelo Sabac; Sensitive topics such as infidelity, homosexuality, pregnancy and abortion are treated naturally, without proselytizing or militancy.
Passion between two girls? It may happen, it may be fear but it is not a sin. miscarriage? It’s an agonizing choice, and again, it either happens, or it doesn’t, as we move forward, because this is life, and this is how we spend our days.
- Jose Eduardo Agualosa: Victory of the pigs
I was surprised by the adult way in which the film expresses all of this. There are none posted there, which is unusual in itself at a time when many people don’t seem to have learned how to tell stories without raising flags. What a pleasure to watch a movie in which nothing is imposed, and in which everything is given! It even deserves an exclamation point.
Friends Larissa Manuela and Giovanna Rispoli look adorable. We believe in friendship, we believe in silence, and we even believe in separation. These are new and unaffected interpretations. Bruno Barreto handles everything with the calm confidence of someone who knows what he’s doing.
Non-trivial detail: “Betrayal between Friends” leaves the Rio-São Paulo axis and settles in Curitiba, a choice that immediately gives it a different colour. In fact, the photography is brilliant, and the city is impressive. There’s also an amazing train ride to Müritz, which is one of those trips that makes us rush to the Internet to look up ticket prices.
I was touched when I finally saw the dedication to Jamie Lerner, eternal friend.
Anyway, everything is resolved well. A tremendous script, confident direction, the actresses are perfectly in sync, and the city provides a backdrop that breathes with the story. I left the cinema feeling very happy, which is supernatural for me at that time of the morning.
And of course I left grateful. When Lucie Barretto invites you to watch a movie, you go and come back smiling.
Thank you very much, dear Lucy.