Ari Aster’s new film is, to say the least, disturbing

Director of hits such as “Hereditary” and “Midsommar”, Ari Aster has just premiered his newest film: “Eddington”, with Pedro Pascal and Joaquim Phoenix.

The plot follows a standoff between a sheriff and a mayor of a small town in New Mexico, which gives the film its name. “The sheriff is a denialist, he doesn’t wear masks during the pandemic (…) and you see how crazy he is”, explains critic Flavia Guerra in this Wednesday’s Plano Geral videocast.

According to the journalist, the director uses this “war” between the characters to create “a beautiful metaphor for today’s world.” “There are denialists, the extreme right, young people who go to the extreme right, young people who go to the left and use the agenda to look good on social media… That’s for everyone, he doesn’t spare anyone”, he says. “I really like Ari Aster’s cinema, but everything he does is disturbing — for the good.”

By giving “the same weight” to both political spectrums, the director ended up receiving some negative criticism, says Flavia. “I also think he exaggerated,” he says. “There are weights that he equates that are not quite like that. Of course he is making a parabola in an inverted world, but I think he needs to balance the sides, because no one is saved there.”

Ari Aster is that director that we either love or we leave. And a lot of people left ‘Eddington’ Flavia Guerra, journalist for Plano Geral

Series about Ângela Diniz comes to streaming

“Angela”, an HBO Max series about socialite Ângela Diniz, who was brutally murdered in 1976 by her partner in Praia dos Ossos (Rio de Janeiro), premiered yesterday.

Media crime, which is part of the Brazilian imagination, is just one part portrayed in the series, says screenwriter Elena Soarez in an interview with Plano Geral. “We had this very clear idea about not making the series about the crime. We created this woman’s arc, from her first act (…) when she wants to break away, to the rescue of her dignity, in the second trial — since the first turned the defendant into a victim, and the murderer went free.”

According to Elena, the series reveals how violence against women was acceptable at the time. “Angela is not portrayed in the series as a saint, so as not to give the idea that only ‘holy women’ do not deserve to be murdered,” he says.

For the screenwriter, the socialite “paid a very high price” for the choices she made as a woman. “She was accused of being a murderer, a drug addict, she was condemned as if she were the defendant. She is described as a woman who practiced debauchery”, he recalls.

She also highlights what it was like to record scenes from Ângela Diniz’s trial using the “real speeches” to which she had access in the transcript during the process.. “There is no invention there. The real trial was unbearable, it lasted from daytime until dawn”, he recalls. “Everything that is being said is exactly what happened at the trial.”

Flavia Guerra says this is a “stomach-churning” moment. “It’s very amazing,” he says.

Mix Brasil begins with a surprising tribute

The 33rd edition of Festival Mix Brasil has just started with a long program of films, which will continue until the 23rd.

The event, focused on the culture of diversity and known as the “Queer Film Festival”, decided to honor a non-LGBTQIA+ person for the first time: Marisa Orth. The actress receives the Icon Award, which has been given in the past to Ney Matogrosso, João Nery and Canadian filmmaker Bruce LaBruce.

In Plano Geral, journalist Vitor Búrigo highlights Marisa Orth’s performance at the festival since 1999. “This award is really cool, because Marisa has a history with Mix Brasil: she is the presenter of Show do Gongo, which is one of the festival’s wonderful attractions”, he explains.

The event organizers themselves state that the actress and comedian “represents the spirit of Mix Brasil”. “Marisa transformed laughter into a political gesture and joy into resistance. With her scenic intelligence, generosity and courage to challenge standards, she represents what MixBrasil is most true to: freedom, creativity and affection”, says a post on Mix Brasil’s official profile on social media.

Vitor Búrigo also remembers that the actress from “Sai de Baixo” and “Toma Lá Dá Cá” was also honored this year at the Ouro Preto Film Festival (CineOP), and indicates the opening film for Mix Brasil this year, “Me Ame com Ternura”. “It’s a very beautiful film about motherhood and prejudices that society still has”, he adds. “It exposes a maximum degree of homophobia and machismo. It’s a very beautiful and sometimes painful film to watch.”

Presented by Flavia Guerra and Vitor Búrigo, Plano Geral is shown on Wednesdays, at 11 am, on the TV channel Splash on YouTube and on the UOL home page, with the main news about cinema and streaming. You can still listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.