This film popped on my radar after Pedro Costa listed it as one of his top ten from the decade. I gotta say I felt isolated by this film for half its runtime; there seems to be a lot of historical context as well as familiarity with the director's oeuvre that's needed to fully digest this work. However, the intimacy is clear and I think the personal resonance can be felt without the context. I felt a strong sense of tragedy, particularly surrounding the female characters. There are some amazing shots; my favourites are the song and dance sequences about the film's title. Perhaps if there comes a time where I'm much more familiar with Portuguese film, I can revisit this and unlock its secrets. Until then, I'll remember it as a film which felt deeply personal but whose intricacies remain cloudy.

This film popped on my radar after Pedro Costa listed it as one of his top ten from the decade. I gotta say I felt isolated by this film for half its runtime; there seems to be a lot of historical context as well as familiarity with the director's oeuvre that's needed to fully digest this work. However, the intimacy is clear and I think the personal resonance can be felt without the context. I felt a strong sense of tragedy, particularly surrounding the female characters. There are some amazing shots; my favourites are the song and dance sequences about the film's title. Perhaps if there comes a time where I'm much more familiar with Portuguese film, I can revisit this and unlock its secrets. Until then, I'll remember it as a film which felt deeply personal but whose intricacies remain cloudy.