The eponymous Portuguese football star in Diamantino is essentially a child, his brain empty of anything that would interfere with his zen-like mastery of the sport (cue giant fluffy puppies - it's gonna get weirder before it's over, folks - and everyone wants a piece of him. His evil twin sisters, law enforcement looking for his hidden riches, a fascist government parodying both Brexit and MAGA, and even a geneticist looking to reproduce his magic. Over the course of this already insane story, a secret agent (Cleo Tavares, the real star here, she's awesome) will pose as his adopted refugee son and perhaps fall under the charm of his innocence and naivete. Part political satire, part taboo (but somehow charming) love story, part black comedy, part gonzo science-fiction tale, Diamantino impresses by sheer originality. The climax is a bit abrupt, but I think that's a feeling born of my wanting the film to be longer. And I can't exactly raise a penalty flag on that.
I watched part of Roman Holiday on TCM before watching this and despite them being EXTREMELY different movies there were an odd amount of similarities:
* Vespa scooters
* Famous people who are controlled by those close to them
* The famous person is being tricked by a duo for their job, but *spoiler* ends up romantically involved with one of them
* The end of Roman Holiday is a press interview about the nascent European Union, Diamantino involves Portuguese nationalists trying to leave the EU.
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jlfitz
KanopySiskoid
The eponymous Portuguese football star in Diamantino is essentially a child, his brain empty of anything that would interfere with his zen-like mastery of the sport (cue giant fluffy puppies - it's gonna get weirder before it's over, folks - and everyone wants a piece of him. His evil twin sisters, law enforcement looking for his hidden riches, a fascist government parodying both Brexit and MAGA, and even a geneticist looking to reproduce his magic. Over the course of this already insane story, a secret agent (Cleo Tavares, the real star here, she's awesome) will pose as his adopted refugee son and perhaps fall under the charm of his innocence and naivete. Part political satire, part taboo (but somehow charming) love story, part black comedy, part gonzo science-fiction tale, Diamantino impresses by sheer originality. The climax is a bit abrupt, but I think that's a feeling born of my wanting the film to be longer. And I can't exactly raise a penalty flag on that.senorroboto
I watched part of Roman Holiday on TCM before watching this and despite them being EXTREMELY different movies there were an odd amount of similarities:* Vespa scooters
* Famous people who are controlled by those close to them
* The famous person is being tricked by a duo for their job, but *spoiler* ends up romantically involved with one of them
* The end of Roman Holiday is a press interview about the nascent European Union, Diamantino involves Portuguese nationalists trying to leave the EU.
Also both movies are great and I recommend them