47/24
Sofia is a progressive, independent girl who is afraid of the word marriage. The only love stories in her life are the ones with Jane Austen. That is, until she is mysteriously transported to the 19th century. Film debut of Diego Montez. With Jules og Jim (1962). I was quite surprised by this film, in a good way, since most of what concerns the fantasy and “what if” genre has already been told and it’s usually a hackneyed thing except for new viewers, but “Perdida” (“Lost”) actually had some good points to offer, a somewhat new approach and new presentation of certain things despite the large amount of cliches that most of us know from both romance novels and fantasy themes. The film is based on a best-selling novel (which I haven’t read), so it was the fantastical themes and some names from the cast that attracted me to it. Plot twist: It’s an entertaining, humorous film, and one of those that you really enjoy watching. It’s about Sofia (Giovanna Grigio), a modern, independent woman who is a huge fan of Jane Austen’s novels and wishes her love life was exactly like her crush on a noble, gentle Mr. Darcy. But in the age of dating/hook-up apps and broken romances, the dream is only real in the books, or so she thinks, until she is transported to the 19th century to a place that feels like a mix of Brazil and England, and where ethnic diversity is somehow fully accepted (I really liked that, but a lot of people will be confused by it), and there she happens to meet the young, handsome and respectable Ian Clarke (Bruno Montaleone). You’ll have to fill in the rest yourself to understand how the confusion grows between beings from different eras, with different behaviors and societies, and whether love exists. The production quality was great, from the costumes and art direction to the location (I’m not sure where they shot those beautiful landscapes where Sofia and Ian ride their horses), the whole package was superbly presented. And if it has to be said that “Perdida” has a certain urgency, or at least an audience for it, it’s those who feel exactly like Sofia, who lives in and experiences an incredible technological age, and the ability to believe in love and marriage outside of a mere social contract; but in our time there is a lack of human connection, real affection (as if the Austen era was absolutely perfect). So the film makes an interesting comparison between the time, the romance from the classic novels and the modern era, and shows how these two could be connected… if at all. These questions are full of humor, the couple is very charming, as are the supporting characters – Ian’s sister (Nathália Falcão) was my favorite sister, she is enchanted with sunglasses and always helps Sofia. However, as a story that pokes fun at cliches from fantasy, literature and real life, Perdida almost misses them for a long time, but that’s one of those things that always attracts audiences who love these themes but turns off those who feel fatigued by repetition. It didn’t bother me much and I was able to be surprised by a few things and the ending seemed quite appropriate for everything that was presented. Fiction as fiction, but sometimes there are touches that touch on reality. Life and learning. 7/10.