O Amor Natural (1996/Documentary/Poetry)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Film: C
Eroticism
is more relative than ever with the over-inundation of sexual images, most of
which are a joke, but there is also the written word and some tend to stand out
better than others. Writer/director
Heddy Honigmann’s O Amor Natural (1996)
is a documentary about Carlos Drummond de Andrade, a famous and favored poet of
erotica in Brazil. Running 76 minutes,
we get more interviews than biography about the writer and actually offers a
series of older people reading the work.
The
approach is amusing, but wears thin quickly and does not go where, though some
of the moments can amuse. Unfortunately,
despite hearing the works, I was only so impressed. Maybe the book would be better than the
movie.
The 1.33
X 1 image looks soft, color can be weak, it is location video and it is
watchable at best, but does not encourage repeat viewing. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is barley stereo,
but playback is adequate. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
