Favela Dos Meus Amores: A weird, dusty look at old-school ambition

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a thing for black-and-white curiosities. If you like slick, fast-paced modern cinema, stay far away. You will probably find it boring or just plain weird. But if you like movies that feel like they were dug out of a shoebox in an attic, you might find something here.

The whole premise of two guys returning from Paris to open a nightclub in a slum feels like a fever dream. It is a strange contrast—this idea of 'fancy' cabaret stuff clashing with the reality of the setting. It never really lands, but I didn't hate watching it try.

Bits and pieces

• The lighting in the nightclub scenes is surprisingly moody. Sometimes it's way too dark, though. Like, squint-at-the-screen dark.
• Rosinha is the heart of the thing. She does a lot with very little dialogue.
• There is this one scene where they are walking up the hill that drags on for an eternity. My attention span definitely wandered to my phone for a second.

It is not as tight as Merton of the Movies, which had a bit more snap to the pacing. This one just kind of drifts along like a boat on a lazy river. Sometimes that's nice. Other times, you just want them to get to the point.

The cabaret plan feels like a distraction from the romance. I think the movie knew it too. Whenever they stop talking about business and just hang out in the street, the chemistry actually hits a little bit. It is much better than the formal cabaret scenes where everyone looks uncomfortable in their suits.

Also, the sound quality is a rollercoaster. One minute the dialogue is crisp, and the next, it sounds like it was recorded inside a tin can. It’s charming in a 'we didn't have the budget' kind of way, I guess? 🤷‍♂️

If you've seen enough stuff like Fighting Pioneers, you know the type of rough-around-the-edges vibe I'm talking about. It’s not 'good' in the technical sense, but it has a pulse. And sometimes that is enough for a rainy Tuesday night.

I left the movie wondering if they ever actually made money on that club. The ending doesn't really bother telling you. It just kind of… stops. And I think I’m okay with that.