Foreign Land

Star Review

An early work from Walter Salles (who would go on to make the modern classics The Motorcycle Diaries and Central Station), this film noir plays cleverly with convention, creating an unusual and fresh picture. The unhurried start follows the difficult lives of two marginalised individuals, both of whom have been affected by the bleak prospects offered by the new Brazilian government of Fernando Collor; Alex has left Sao Paulo to work as a waitress in Portugal, whilst the mother of Paco dies of a heart attack when she discovers her savings have been frozen. When Paco agrees to smuggle diamonds into Portugal to get out of Brazil, the disparate pair cross paths, with explosive results.

In best noir tradition, the clueless hero can never be sure who can be trusted, with Alex remaining an ambiguous character until the very end. The classic genre staple of the ‘MacGuffin’, in this case a violin filled with diamonds, closes the film in a neat moment of irony. Although tonally very different, Salles’ ability to capture the ambiance of South America at its lowest ebb would resonate throughout his later works.

Alex Davidson on 5th September 2007

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Film Description

Aka Terra Estrangeira. Paco lives with his elderly mother in a poor Sao Paulo neighbourhood. When she hears the government has seized her savings, the shocked woman drops dead. Paco now feels little desire to stay in Brazil and agrees to smuggle a violin stuffed with raw diamonds to Lisbon. From the director of Motorcycle Diaries and Central Station.

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Film Details

Cast

Tcheky Karyo, Fernanda Torres, Fernando Alves Pinto

Technical Details