This weekend, I went with a Brazilian friend to see a French movie I knew almost nothing about, other than the fact that it took place in Rio. I warned her that it could potentially be really bad, but it turned out to be totally hilarious.
The movie, called OSS 117: Lost in Rio, is basically a French version of Austin Powers. The protagonist, Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, gets teamed up with an Israeli Mossad agent searching for a Nazi in Brazil in the 1960s. They filmed a lot of the movie in Rio, in some of my favorite parts of the city: the beaches in Recreio, a hotel in Flamengo, a mansion in Gavea, and all over Corcovado. Though Brazil is mostly a scenic backdrop for the plot (with a few opportunities for silly stereotypes, but no one escapes stereotypes in this movie), it's great fun to watch. You just have to keep in mind that it's a silly comedy and not take it too seriously. It's also a perfect opportunity to matar saudades do Rio with the beautiful scenes of the city.
For those interested, it's now playing at the Angelika in New York and the Landmark NuArt Theater in LA.
Looks like an awesome movie. Wonder when it will open here in Brazil.
Posted by: Andrew | May 12, 2010 at 02:06 PM