|
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Product Description
One of the most controversial gay-themed films since Cruising, this Brazilian romantic drama centers on the intimate bond between two men made problematic with them being brothers. As children, Francisco and his younger half-brother Thomás, were best friends and unusually close to each other- so much so that their intimacy brings vocal concerns from relatives that maybe they are too close. But the parents reluctantly brush away the gossip. Fast-forward several years with the now strikingly handsome, bronzed young men taking their childhood intensity into a torrid sexual relationship. But can their love survive society s discerning gaze? Spectacularly shot amidst the mountains, beaches and grand estates of Brazil, this sweeping erotic drama does not just live on the controversial subject matter but rather is a strikingly evocative romance of two men fighting against societal conventions.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Portuguese ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: One of the most controversial gay-themed films since Cruising, this Brazilian romantic drama centers on the intimate bond between two men - made problematic with them being brothers. As children, Francisco and his younger half-brother Thomás, were best friends and unusually close to each other- so much so that their intimacy brings vocal concerns from relatives that maybe they are too close. But the parents reluctantly brush away the gossip. Fast-forward several years with the now strikingly handsome, bronzed young men taking their childhood intensity into a torrid sexual relationship. But can their love survive society's discerning gaze? Spectacularly shot amidst the mountains, beaches and grand estates of Brazil, this sweeping erotic drama does not just live on the controversial subject matter but rather is a strikingly evocative romance of two men fighting against societal conventions. ...From Beginning to End ( Do Começo ao Fim )
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
DO COMEÇO AO FIM ('From Beginning to End'), narrated in voice-over by Thomás, the younger of two brothers, is an engaging portrayal of the lifelong powerful bond between himself and his older brother, Francisco. (Although nowhere acknowledged, it is difficult not to think that this film was inspired by Augustin Gomez-Arcos's sublime novel, Carnivorous Lamb.)
The first third of DO COMEÇO AO FIM focuses on the tenderness of the brothers' early lives, when Francisco is 12-years-old and Thomás 6. The two are actually half-brothers; they live with their mother in Brazil, but Francisco's father lives in Argentina. Despite this marital restructuring, the mother and father remain on good terms, and the portrait is one of a deeply loving and affectionate family. Nowhere is this more evident than between the brothers...
Francisco adores and protects the younger Thomás, while the latter idolises the former. Their mother senses the intimacy that already exists between them, which perhaps accounts for her wistful (yet accepting) sadness towards a love from which she will forever be excluded. Francisco's father in Argentina, too, suspects that their relationship is "too intimate"; in response to his suggestion that they talk to the boys, their mother responds: "I don't know exactly what they are doing... But we cannot tell them it is a bad thing." Refreshing, indeed.
The film jumps ahead fifteen years; both their mother and Francisco's father have died, and the brothers, now in their 20s, continue to live together - their love, affection and physicality undiminished. ("I love you because to understand our love, [people] would need to turn the world upside down.") The (perhaps inevitable) dramatic rupture arises when Thomás is invited to move to Russia for three years, to train as a swimmer for the Olympics. Bereft, Francisco turns to clubbing, and meets a woman who appears likely to create a permanent rift in his relationship with Thomás.
Strong production values and a genuinely superb musical score perfectly round off this unusual love story from writer/director Aluisio Abranches. If there is one hesitation, it is that the film largely avoids anything dark or gritty: the characters are all wealthy, tanned and handsome, and they face few challenges along the way. Indeed, the bold, warm colours of DO COMEÇO AO FIM's sumptuous cinematography seem calculated to present Thomás and Francisco's relationship in an almost idealised, fantasy setting. While this absence of provocation borders tepidly on the artificial, and would usually be cause for frustration, perhaps in the context of this culturally-neglected theme it simply allows the viewer to revel in its carefree sensuality. Highly recommended.
The first third of DO COMEÇO AO FIM focuses on the tenderness of the brothers' early lives, when Francisco is 12-years-old and Thomás 6. The two are actually half-brothers; they live with their mother in Brazil, but Francisco's father lives in Argentina. Despite this marital restructuring, the mother and father remain on good terms, and the portrait is one of a deeply loving and affectionate family. Nowhere is this more evident than between the brothers...
Francisco adores and protects the younger Thomás, while the latter idolises the former. Their mother senses the intimacy that already exists between them, which perhaps accounts for her wistful (yet accepting) sadness towards a love from which she will forever be excluded. Francisco's father in Argentina, too, suspects that their relationship is "too intimate"; in response to his suggestion that they talk to the boys, their mother responds: "I don't know exactly what they are doing... But we cannot tell them it is a bad thing." Refreshing, indeed.
The film jumps ahead fifteen years; both their mother and Francisco's father have died, and the brothers, now in their 20s, continue to live together - their love, affection and physicality undiminished. ("I love you because to understand our love, [people] would need to turn the world upside down.") The (perhaps inevitable) dramatic rupture arises when Thomás is invited to move to Russia for three years, to train as a swimmer for the Olympics. Bereft, Francisco turns to clubbing, and meets a woman who appears likely to create a permanent rift in his relationship with Thomás.
Strong production values and a genuinely superb musical score perfectly round off this unusual love story from writer/director Aluisio Abranches. If there is one hesitation, it is that the film largely avoids anything dark or gritty: the characters are all wealthy, tanned and handsome, and they face few challenges along the way. Indeed, the bold, warm colours of DO COMEÇO AO FIM's sumptuous cinematography seem calculated to present Thomás and Francisco's relationship in an almost idealised, fantasy setting. While this absence of provocation borders tepidly on the artificial, and would usually be cause for frustration, perhaps in the context of this culturally-neglected theme it simply allows the viewer to revel in its carefree sensuality. Highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Do Começo ao Fim (English: From Beginning To End) was always going to be a victim of its own hype. The consensus seems to be largely negative, thanks to the perceived lack of insight into the taboo that gets everyone - one way or another - hot under the collar: incest.
Aluizio Abranches' film is a study of two brothers growing up in a comfortably well-off family in Brazil; the mother, a doctor and the father, an artist. We witness the boys - Francisco and Thomás - growing up, from Thomás' birth through until the boys' twenties.
It's slow and meandering, progressively building a picture of an unusually intense bond between the brothers, against a backdrop of some very handsome cinematography, and an impressive musical score. It's subtle, and understated, but a journey nonetheless, and one punctuated with sudden, startling visceral thrills (yes, there is sex and nudity).
"To understand our love," Francisco, the older brother, says at one point, "they'd have to turn the world upside down."
Hugely profound, his words instantly, and almost certainly, renders the entire audience as a pitchfork-wielding mob, à la Frankenstein. It forces those of us who are fuming, sniggering, or otherwise judging to pause and reflect, and begs the question, "Could any of us possibly understand?"
The picture perfect Cosby Show set-up works equally well for the film as it does against it - we, the audience, constantly anticipate the dark forces of an unforgiving outside world tearing their world apart. Much of the film's audience will similarly be wishing for a moral denouement that sets the boys "straight".
But From Beginning To End is a beautiful film, its soul unblemished by self-loathing, unblighted by prejudice, and free from the scars of a world that seeks to beat to a bloody pulp anything it doesn't understand.
Truly unique - and truly misunderstood - this is a beautiful love story, of a depth and intensity few of us will ever experience, let alone comprehend.
As the brothers' mother says, "I don't know exactly what they are doing... But we cannot tell them it is a bad thing." Indeed.
Aluizio Abranches' film is a study of two brothers growing up in a comfortably well-off family in Brazil; the mother, a doctor and the father, an artist. We witness the boys - Francisco and Thomás - growing up, from Thomás' birth through until the boys' twenties.
It's slow and meandering, progressively building a picture of an unusually intense bond between the brothers, against a backdrop of some very handsome cinematography, and an impressive musical score. It's subtle, and understated, but a journey nonetheless, and one punctuated with sudden, startling visceral thrills (yes, there is sex and nudity).
"To understand our love," Francisco, the older brother, says at one point, "they'd have to turn the world upside down."
Hugely profound, his words instantly, and almost certainly, renders the entire audience as a pitchfork-wielding mob, à la Frankenstein. It forces those of us who are fuming, sniggering, or otherwise judging to pause and reflect, and begs the question, "Could any of us possibly understand?"
The picture perfect Cosby Show set-up works equally well for the film as it does against it - we, the audience, constantly anticipate the dark forces of an unforgiving outside world tearing their world apart. Much of the film's audience will similarly be wishing for a moral denouement that sets the boys "straight".
But From Beginning To End is a beautiful film, its soul unblemished by self-loathing, unblighted by prejudice, and free from the scars of a world that seeks to beat to a bloody pulp anything it doesn't understand.
Truly unique - and truly misunderstood - this is a beautiful love story, of a depth and intensity few of us will ever experience, let alone comprehend.
As the brothers' mother says, "I don't know exactly what they are doing... But we cannot tell them it is a bad thing." Indeed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The plot has been told in previous reviews of the film. I'd like to add that I don't agree that the plot needed to contain more "drama" or hardships or adversity. Can't we just enjoy a well-told love story without anyone falling to pieces? I find myself cringing at most films when things go well because the big bomb is going to drop any moment. Nice to just relax and enjoy life being "good" and people living it fully.
It would be easy to miss the point and take this as a story about incest but that's not what the film is about. It's about love. Who are we to define another person's version of love? Who are we to judge? Two people fall in love. Two consenting adults. It's a tale about love told through beautiful cinematography, a beautiful score, and with wonderful actors. It's well directed with great sensitivity to the subject matter. Job well done, guys.
It would be easy to miss the point and take this as a story about incest but that's not what the film is about. It's about love. Who are we to define another person's version of love? Who are we to judge? Two people fall in love. Two consenting adults. It's a tale about love told through beautiful cinematography, a beautiful score, and with wonderful actors. It's well directed with great sensitivity to the subject matter. Job well done, guys.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A sweet, innocent, beautiful but flawed love story
THE REACTION
I don't understand why mutually consenting sex - actually eager sex, in this case - between brothers near the same age is a big deal. Read more
I don't understand why mutually consenting sex - actually eager sex, in this case - between brothers near the same age is a big deal. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Martin
Controversial, but tenderly told.
I am sure that the conservative right will have a field day with this film and its subject matter. Love between two brothers (half-brothers) is indeed a story which jars the senses... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kurt Clare
Super performances by everyone
I will start my review with the only negative comment that I have about this film: and that is that it fails to deal with any outside pressures or inevitable consequences of... Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. R. Daniel Moreau
A THIN, FINE LINE
Along the lines of Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Dreamers", Louis Malle's "Murmur of the Heart" or Jean Chatreuverte's "La Coupure" comes Aluizio Abranches film "Do Començo ao Fim"... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Laurensis
Brazillian Love Story
This is one of those films I had been meaning to see for a while, and now wonder what took me so long. It is a Brazilian love story put simply. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tommy D
Suprisingly boring and superficial considering it's subject
This incest love story about two half brothers in Brazil is a small disaster .
12 year old Francisco and 6 year old Thomas are as lovingly protective of each other as... Read more
12 year old Francisco and 6 year old Thomas are as lovingly protective of each other as... Read more
Published 11 months ago by giovanni
Shallow and Highly Overrated!!!!
so after about a year of waiting for this film to come out on dvd!!! and after all the hype and media coverage it has received, i was very highly disappointed to find the story... Read more
Published 12 months ago by soso24
nicely done!
Nice storyline, good acting, quaint setting: you'll be sorry this movie doesn't last at least 3 hours. Loved it, from beginning tot end..
Published 13 months ago by Harry B
Watched from the beginning to the end
This Brazilian drama will leave nobody indifferent. It doesn't happen everyday that we can watch such a controversial, yet interesting story. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pitbulltje
stunningly beautiful tale
A beautifully told poignant tale. How great to find a gay themed film with an upbeat ending. The two main actors are very easy on the eye,together with the scenery and settings... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Aquatron
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
