Cidade Baixa (2005)

Director:

Sérgio Machado

Writers:

Karim Ainouz (writer)
Sérgio Machado (writer)

Release Date:

17 November 2005 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love to live. Live to love.

Plot:

Lifelong friends Deco and Naldinho, who own a small steaming boat in Bahia, meet strip-dancer Karinna. Both men fall for her and their friendship is deeply shattered.

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Nudity | Pregnant | Cheating | Love Triangle

Awards:

17 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Lázaro Ramos	...	Deco
Wagner Moura	...	Naldinho
Alice Braga	...	Karinna
José Dumont	...	Sergipano
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tinho Bahia	...	Lutador de Boxe
Harildo Deda	...	Careca
Fernanda de Freitas	...	Nilma
Luís Olho de Gato	...	Sparing
Andréa Elia	...	D. Lenita
Felipe Ferreira	...	Joilson
Nonato Freire	...	Escrivão
Fernando Fulco	...	Delegado
Carolina Kahro Ribeiro	...	Jamily
Agnaldo Lopes	...	Cliente Karinna 2
Ricardo Luedy	...	Cliente Karinna 1
Olga Machado	...	Médica
Wilson Mello	...	Ferreirinha
Maria Menezes	...	Luzinete
João Miguel	...	Edvan
Dois Mundos	...	Himself
Marcos Pedroso	...	Seu Marquinhos
Adelena Rios	...	Dançarina Strip 1
Leno Sacramento	...	Rufino
Débora Santiago	...	Sirlene
Guiga Scott	...	Locutor Xanadu
Ricardo Spencer	...	Marcelo
Divina Valéria	...	Zilu
Taís Wagner	...	Prostituta 1

Also Known As:

Lower City (International: English title) (UK)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

98 min | Argentina:100 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | Brazil:110 min

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:16 (theatrical rating) | Australia:MA | Malaysia:(Banned) | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:R21 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Brazil:18 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Company:

VideoFilmes

Goofs:

Continuity: In closer shots of Karinna on the stripper pole, we can see that she is wearing panties. In farther-away shots, she appears full-frontally nude, putting said panties on.

Movie Connections:

References The Hot Chick (2002)

"Lower" your expectations

Lower City has several problems, the primary being that the story is a tired retread. We've seen it all before..the financial desperation causing people to do anything to survive, and an old fashioned love triangle. Director Sergio Machado brings nothing fresh to these well-worn story threads. Another complaint is although the film was shot in Salvador Brazil, we barely see any of the CITY in Lower City. Most of the film takes place on a boat or within the interiors of clubs, hotel rooms, and apartments. Another major fault lies in the fact that there is little to like about the three main characters. The men practice misogyny, rob, steal, and enjoy watching a good cock fight in their down time. The woman is a career prostitute. I felt quite detached from these characters rather early in the film. The ending was one that most could clearly see coming up Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue).

What DID work was the sexual chemistry between the three leads. The love scenes were passionate and convincing. I only wish the rest of the film had the same energy.

5/10