Fifth about The Seventh

Carlota Joaquina, Princess of Brazil (Carlota Joaquina, Princesa do Brazil)

Carlota Joaquina, Princess of Brazil: Carla Camurati’s irreverent and profane biopic smartly frames the narrative almost as a dark fairy tale to tell the story of Carlota Joaquina, Spanish princess and Portuguese queen, who moved to Brazil when Napoleon invaded Portugal. That frame, an uncle telling a story to his niece, justifies its excesses and factual imprecisions, not that this would ever be (or should) be confused with a documentary. Marieta Severo plays the title character as an adult, a fiery, horny, power-hungry woman with a particular love for profanity; it is a naturally large performance, since this is an exaggerated account. Marco Nanini, as her husband, eventual king Dom João VI, is portrayed as a food-hungry, dullard, impressionable man. The film is opulent, with both the production and costume designs being excellent, but cinematographer Breno Silveira veers away from the traditional with his camerawork. Excellent musical score by composer André Abujamra.

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