Antonia [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

A rising feminist movement is a major theme of this Brazilian film about a hip-hop Spice Girls-style singing act trying to make it in the midst of the socio-economic problems of lower class Sao Paolo. That surprised me a bit, because I wouldn't have guessed that feminism was a new idea at this point in industrialized Brazil, but I guess I just do not know that much about Brazil.

At times, Antônia - O Filme seems like a spin-off, in a manner more typical of sitcom spinoffs minus the humor, of Cidade de Deus. It occurs in the same world, with the same kinds of problems, only this time from a young woman's perspective. The "spin-off" flavor is maybe explainable by the fact that some of Cidade de Deus' production team is behind Antônia - O Filme, too, and looking at the IMDb, I see that apparently there's a television show, "Antônia", based on these same characters and using these same actors.

Friendship is also a major theme, following these Brazilian Spice Girls--named The Antônias in the film--through serious roadblocks to philia as one by one, other things intrude on their lives and they have to quit the band.

From what I can discern, at least some of the Antônias have musical careers in real life, and they're certainly good singers. With the exception of an impromptu version of "Killing Me Softly with His Song", the music they perform in the film is somewhat vacuous to my tastes, and those scenes made me feel more like I was watching a film such as Stomp the Yard, but the grittier Cidade de Deus-flavored scenes were dominant and worthwhile if not completely novel.

Powerful film...I saw this in LA with my girlfriend and even she liked it, and she's not normally a foreign language film lover. Great story...

Quick side note - my copy DID have subtitles, so not sure why some
seem to not...

A sweet, interesting mix of gritty, hand-held street style film-making,
with a much more Hollywood story - a melodrama about girl singing group
trying to make it, and get out of the ghetto

Ultimately a little thin on the character and emotional level for me,
although I'll take it over a Hollywood bio-pic any day. But cliché's
are cliché's, even if they're handled with more energy and panache than
usual. You can see a lot of twists and conflicts coming a mile off.

Also, some of the acting is pretty stiff - it feels like weak
improvisation. Per several articles on the film, the women were picked
for singing ability (which is very high, great voices!) first, and
acting second.

Most of the songs are terrific, a few are a little lame.

Bottom line, while not a great film,
if you're interested in the subject, it's worth seeing.