Directed by Felipe Hirsch, Daniela Thomas. Screenplay, Wil Eno, Sam Lipsyte. With: Paulo Jose, Antonio Medeiros, Simone Spoladore, Leonardo Medeiros, Andre Frateschi, Maria Luisa Mendonça, Leandra Leal, Jorge Emil, Daniela Piepszyk.
Some might argue that the school of pretentious arthouse movies has another graduate in “Sunstroke,” but the first cinematic joint venture of Brazilian theater director Felipe Hirsch and frequent Walter Salles collaborator Daniela Thomas is nothing if not ambitious. Set against the deserted, sun-scorched modernist architecture of Brasilia, the pic zooms in on specific moments of love and loss, some of them exquisitely felt, and largely leaves narrative and character development by the wayside. This ultra-arthouse item won’t shine brightly in commercial release but will be a hot ticket at fests.
Nominally inspired by 19th-century Russian literature, “Sunstroke” plays like a pop-up book in which bursts of emotion protrude from a gorgeous but flat background. The audacious approach doesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s glorious. Narrator Andrei (screen vet Paulo Jose) functions as a guide to the characters, including a bespectacled kid (Antonio Medeiros) who takes his first infatuation very seriously, and a woman (Maria Luisa Mendonsa) jealous of a man’s (Leonardo Medeiros) warmth toward a child (Daniela Piepszyk). Moments of deadpan humor leaven the otherwise dead-serious proceedings. Composed widescreen lensing and score lead the top-drawer tech contributions.
Camera (color, widescreen), Mauro Pinheiro Jr.; editor, Livia Serpa; music, Arthur de Faria; art director, Valdy Lopes Jr.; costume designer, Cassio Brasil. Reviewed at Venice Film Festival (Horizons), Sept. 6, 2009. Original title: Insolacao. Running time: 98 MIN.