O Primeiro Dia (1998)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Walter Salles
Daniela Thomas

Writers:

João Emanuel Carneiro (writer)
Walter Salles (writer)

Release Date:

18 February 1999 (Hungary)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

If there is one day to decide something in life, this day is today.

Plot:

On December 31st of 1999, the destiny brings a fugitive prisoner and a depressed middle class teacher together, as the new millennium approaches bringing hope to everyone.

Plot Keywords:

Fireworks | New Year's Eve | Rio De Janeiro Brazil | Suicide Attempt | Prison

Awards:

6 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Fernanda Torres	...	Maria
Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos	...	João
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Francisco
Nelson Sargento	...	Vovô
Tonico Pereira	...	Carcereiro
Aulio Ribeiro	...	José
Luciana Bezerra	...	Rosa
Antonio Gomes	...	Antonio
Nelson Dantas	...	Farmacêutico
Carlos Vereza	...	Pedro
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
José Dumont

Also Known As:

Le premier jour (France)
Meia Noite (Brazil) (alternative title)
Midnight (Canada: English title)
Minuit (France) (TV title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

France | Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Singapore:M18 (cut) | France:U | Norway:15

Company:

Haut et Court

Depressing and violent

Although Walter Salles deserves praise for "Central do Brasil" ("Central Station"), "O Primeiro Dia" ("Midnight") doesn't compare. It's a depressing melange of unsympathetic characters (except for Fernanda Torres and a young deaf boy she's teaching), gratuitous violence, and bleak urban landscapes. It's also a bit of a juvenile male fantasy in the sense that the camera dwells voyeuristically on various aspects of Fernanda Torres's nude or seminude body. Why does poor Torres have to undress in such films as this and "O Judeu" ("The Jew"), while the male actors remain clothed below the waistline? Seems like a double standard to me.