Starring: Leandra Leal, Juliano Czarre, Rosane Mulholland, Alex Disdier, Milhem Cortaz, David Cejkinski, Luciana Brites and Munir Kanaan.
Directed by: Murilo Salles
Rated Unrated
Genre: Drama/Foreign Language/ Brazilian/English Subtitles
By John Delia
Powerful and wonderfully performed, Camila Jam (Nome Proprio) stands out in my mind as one of the most dramatically entertaining films I have seen in years. Totally mesmerizing, I found myself glued to the screen much like a good book you just can’t put down. If you like films with great performances of subject matter that challenges your emotions, then I recommend Camila Jam.
Traumatized by being caught cheating on her lover, Camila (Leal ) sets out to win him back. Thrown out of her own apartment, begging for a place to stay, pushing herself into other peoples lives and slipping more and more into an abyss, Camila starts to realize that her life needs a complete overhaul starting with a new companion. Feeling abandoned she turns to writing to provide strength and relief from her suffering.
The film features a stunning performance by Leandra Leal as Camilla as woman who cannot come to grips with her indiscretions. Her ability to transform her personality into this psychologically disturbed person and make her believable is truly remarkable. I was truly fascinated by her character and the road she takes in an attempt to stop her downward spiral and finally face the inevitable.
Here support actors are very good under the direction of Salles who keeps them at bay only letting them react to Camila’s anger and sporadic tantrums. And with his star, Salles drains Leal of every emotion she has to give, showing up on the screen as a brilliant work of art.
The dark close-up cinematography sets the mood for this emotional drama that tests the will on the overconfident lover who cannot come to grips with her mistake. Leal’s eyes as captured by the camera, tell most of the tale as she goes from self-assurance, to loneliness, sadness and then despair.
The film is unrated but contains nudity, language, drug use, smoking and a few brutal images.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An excellent film that deals with the complexities of life. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)