The Portuguese Falcon

My opinion about Portuguese cinema has never been the best: except for the great films of fifty years ago, and some rare good recent productions, I have always considered that Portuguese filmmakers can only make two types of films: ultra-intellectual films with many complicated stylistic devices that never leave the festival circuit because they don't have any appeal to the public and the goofy or greasy comedies, full of cheap humor and easy laughter, that the general public consumes easily but that lack any kind of artistic quality. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those who prefers everything that's foreign, but I've always wanted to see Portuguese filmmakers and actors committed to the task of learning what is well done abroad, so they can improve what is done here.

Seeing this film, by chance, on television, was a pleasant surprise for me: far from easy laughter and sexual or eschatological appeals, virtually without a single swear and with a lot of intelligence and irony, this is a high quality comedy, the kind of comedy I've always wanted to see in our country. It was an excellent debut for João Leitão, a name that I could only associate with a few humorous TV programs (which were also quite interesting). I don't know if he will want to continue to apply his efforts to the cinema, but it would be interesting if he did, and some more works of similar quality could emerge from his work.

The script is set in the middle of the last century and abuses the irony by creating a masked hero for the Portuguese dictatorship, in the best style of the North American comics, even with a silly partner! Any resemblance between Captain Falcon and figures like Captain America, Batman or Zorro is entirely intentional. The film does not give in to the simple criticism of the regime that ruled Portugal for fifty years, nor to the cheap praise of democracy that followed it: it prefers to make an incisive social critique of a misogynist and closed society and a suspicious, gray government, obsessed with the dangers of communism which, moreover, was really seen as a threat not only in Portugal, but in other countries such as France, USA or United Kingdom, at that time. The biggest irony, of course, is in the confrontation between the film and what we know that actually happened.

The cast is full of well-known names in Portuguese dramaturgy, with big names appearing even in small and unimportant characters. Gonçalo Waddington deserves to be congratulated for his work. I already knew him from the television, and I had already observed his ironic and sharp comic vein, but I think it was the right choice to bring the Portuguese hero to life. The choice of José Pinto to give life to Salazar also seems happy, insofar as they are sufficiently similar, and the actor managed to give the infamous ruler a certain sympathetic dignity. I also liked the choice of David Chen Cordeiro to bring us the (virtually mute, but action-packed) hero's sidekick. The film also has the good and notable participation of Miguel Guilherme, Matamba Joaquim and Nuno Lopes. In addition to these names, the film brings us worthy efforts by Carla Maciel, Rui Mendes and an extremely young Miguel Luna, as well as an honorable cameo by Ricardo Carriço, in his iconic character Major Alvega, far from his glory days.

It is in the technical aspects that the film suffers the most, being highly conditioned by a limited budget and an extremely televised project vision, little oriented towards the big screen. This conditions, for example, cinematography and all the editing and post-production work. Filmed entirely in a studio, the film made good use of the atrium of the Instituto Superior Técnico for some scenes, but the scenes where the hero drives his motorcycle are so absurdly false that the green screen is not even disguised. The sets and costumes are decent enough, but still give the film the visual aspect of a long-running comic TV show. The soundtrack, by Pedro Marques and performed by the Lisbon Philharmonic Orchestra, works reasonably.

When I decided to watch Capitão Falcão, I had had the opportunity to realize there was a very positive feedback on this movie from some friends and acquaintances over the internet. Nevertheless, one is always a bit suspicious when it comes to a popular Portuguese film - don't get me wrong, there can be very good cinema in Portugal! - that doesn't let down.

This film is a satire, basically portraying the good and true Portuguese as a person of value, that loves their family, acts fervently towards any patriotic action and that is totally against Communism and its ideology. For a Portuguese who knows well the history around the dictatorship practiced in Portugal with António de Oliveira Salazar, like the most of us, it becomes even more shocking, although in a very funny way, how some individuals could manage to get a comedy out of what really happened.

Moreover, this movie is genuinely funny; there are crazy moves, fights, outrageous lines and even recreations from our childhood.

In conclusion, and although I can not consider it to be a perfect film, it is a true breath of fresh air when it pertains to the Portuguese film industry that also shows we are perfectly capable of laughing of ourselves and, more importantly, leave the cinema thinking, at least for once - I'm so glad I'm Portuguese!

Despite being understood as a comedy and a satire of fascist Portugal during the Estado Novo era, "Capitão Falcão" falls short in some aspects, such as the pace of the story, visual production, and script, which at various moments makes everything somewhat monotonous and fateful.

However, the film nailed it in various particularities, which I believe are what gave it immense potential. For example, the development/creation of the characters. I've never seen a Portuguese film so well-done in that aspect. Every character, without exception, is intricately crafted and accurately represents many of the flaws of those who were the figures, representative or not, of the people of that time. I loved the character "Capitão Falcão" and "Puto Perdiz," which reminiscent of Batman and Robin from the 1960s. Other characters like the "comuninja" and the "Capitães de Abril" are also remarkable.

The overall performance of the actors was very good, with a special highlight for Gonçalo Waddington, of course.

In conclusion, this movie had great potential, but due to lack of pace and production investment (at least for me), underdelivers and falls a bit short. I believe there is still a long way to go for Portuguese productions in the global cinematic context. Investment is needed.

Forget Marvel, forget DC. Portuguese superhero "Capitain Falcon" is a vintage hero such as "Rocketeer" and "Spirit", but fights crime in the years of fascist regime lead by Salazar... supporting it! The movie strongly reminded me the not well known France-USA comedy "Mr. Freedom", from 1969, due to its high level of mock and politicization in a parody of both superheroes and conservatism, but is is even better, as it has been able to keep a nice pace, playing with absurd situations without missing the point. If it weren't campy, a comparison with "Watchmen" would also be appropriated. Hilarious, ironic and smart Portuguese film, strongly recommended! It is also visually sophisticated and has a nice soundtrack. Overacting is in the precise level required for a spoof like this. The grotesque evil represented in the movie by everything that is progressive increases the level of irony to the top. The relation between the fascist superhero and his sidekick, Puto Perdiz (Partridge Kid, but a much funnier name in Portuguese), and the nemesis represented by April Captains (what a great idea! their symbol is a carnation flower!) assure lots of laughs.

In order to represent the time of Portugal ruled by António de Oliveira Salazar, this film creates a heroic character who defends Portugal and Salazar at all costs with the help of Puto Perdiz. over the film is approached Portuguese habits, the Spanish civil war, PVED (Surveillance and State Defence Police), also known as "pip" and the existing hatred for the communists.

Furthermore this film is a caricature to the State, all superhero movies, as well as the scenes of present actions ourselves.

It's a movie of humor. A humor that not everyone likes! But for the who enjoy this type of humor, they will have an hour and a half lots fun!