An Editor's outlook on "Sao Paulo"

Thus far in class I would have to say that this film has been my favorite. It was so wonderful to watch; it was interesting and pleasing to the eye. This film is my Brazilian Cinema break through. Not that any of the other films we have screened are any less of a film, it is just that "Sao Paulo" took a large step into t new direction for Brazilian cinema and it worked spectacularly.

The film begins with an opening shot of what we find out to be the closing shot. No opening credits nothing, right in to a domestically violent scene that grabs you by the eyeballs and wont let you go until the beginning and end meet up to end the film. Jump cuts, non-linear editing and stylistic shots give this film more emotion and feeling that i have experienced with any of the other films. It felt very modern and fresh.

I like how that in class we were having the discussion on how the cuts did not make any sense, and that some of the shots were not necessary to use. For example we were talking about the beach scene where Carlos slaps around the girl when he sees her out having fun but then then there is a rapid cut to the both of them making out. This was a bit confusing to a few and myself at first but we find out that it was a thought, a day-dream if you may. This style of editing plays through out the film some as mer thoughts others as flashbacks. The film as a whole was very well done and very enjoyable to watch.