StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Ploydsge just watch it!

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Phillida Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Benedict_Cumberbatch "Lavoura Arcaica" (aka "To The Left of the Father") is one of the most intense films you'll ever see - love it or hate it, it'll be a real experience for you. Devastating could be the best word to describe this masterpiece, based upon Raduan Nassar's brief, but strong novel of the same name. I've wanted to see this film since when it came out, back in 2001 - I read the novel the following year, when I was 14, and was thoroughly fascinated; the film would only be released on DVD in late 2005, and only now I could find a copy and finally watch it. It was worth the wait.Luiz Fernando Carvalho, who had directed lots of soap operas before making his stunning feature directorial debut, didn't have a screenplay - everything was improvised on the novel, in a process Carvalho called a "reaction", rather than an adaptation, to the exquisite book. The tragic story of André (Selton Mello, perhaps the most versatile Brazilian actor of his generation) who leaves his home because of his tormented passion for his sister Ana (Simone Spoladore), is told with astounding visual taste by Luiz Fernando and cinematographer Walter Carvalho ("Central Station"), a remarkable original score by Marco Antônio Guimarães, and a flawless cast (including sacred monster Raul Cortez and Juliana Carneiro da Cunha as the parents). This is definitely not a film for all tastes, though; 170 minutes long, slow and spoken in Baroque Portuguese (I'm not sure English subtitles can make full justice to Nassar's poetic narrative; but then again, if you don't avoid Wong Kar-Wai's films just because you don't speak Chinese - I certainly don't - you'll be smart enough not to ignore this film). I'd compare "Lavoura Arcaica" to Terrence Malick and Pier Paolo Pasolini, but Luiz Fernando Carvalho managed to make a unique film with his own style. Well deserved winner of over 30 international awards, this is a film that must be discovered. 10/10 in my books.

luanamarinho3 Just marvelous, beautiful, terrific! I get speechless every time I see this movie! Completely baroque, dark, dense... photograph: awesome!Acting: awesome! Script: shocking! It's really the kind of movie that makes you realize the power of film-making... Yes, it's long. Yes, it's heavy. It's not an ordinary film. Yes, it consumes/ plays with your brain. You start to see your own filthy just as at Kubrick's Lolita... actually you want it to happen too... Thanks M. Carvalho, thanks M. Mello and of course thanks to the master Raul Cortez! M. Carvalho is certainly one of the most talented Brazilian directors and M. Mello is one of the best actors of his generation. The Brazilian people should be very proud of this work.

filipewsan I agree with most of the reviewers when they say that it's a masterpiece. Nevertheless, I also agree with some others that say that non-Portuguese speaking viewers won't be able to understand completely the extreme lyricism and romanticism (true romanticism - not cliché) of the movie. There's plenty of poetic monologues/dialogues, what brings beauty to the movie along with the rich and majestic screenplay and the exotic soundtrack.Differently of other spectators, it didn't take much of my patience to watch it. I had a pretty delightful experience. Sometimes I though the movie was going to come to an end, but every new second of projection made me more pleasured. It kept appealing to my feelings until the last moments. When it was not the erudite dialogue, it was the landscapes or the living colours that surprised and aroused me.Lavoura Arcaica is actually a book written by Raduan Nassar, son of lebanese immigrants which folklore are somewhat depicted in the movie. Nassar studied law and philosophy in São Paulo, what made me notice some decisive influence of contemporary philosophy in the movie. André is a heideggerian youngster while his father is a strict rationalist and traditionalist person. Well, it's better I stop now before I start spoiling the movie. You must watch it! For me, it was a joyful experience. Hope you like it too!

ennii Saw this at HIFF 2002, Helsinki, Finland. 2 hours and 40 minutes seemed a bit much to me too, as to this is no film to enchant and suck you into the story. Extremely beautiful, but literal, heavy, and in the end: boring. Reminds me of the finnish theater tradition... I haven't read the book. Perhaps I should, as to the story in itself seems strong and interesting enough. Only the writer of the screenplay doesn't seem to have thought about the audiences not familiar with the novel. Perhaps it's also a culture thing. Still, I can't say I regret watching this film.