O Cheiro do Ralo (2006)

A pawn shop proprietor buys used goods from desperate locals--as much to play perverse power games as for his own livelihood, but when the perfect rump and a backed-up toilet enter his life, he loses all control.

Director:

Heitor Dhalia

Writers:

Marçal Aquino, Heitor Dhalia

Stars:

Selton Mello, Paula Braun, Paulo Alves

13 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Selton Mello	...	Lourenço
Paula Braun	...	Garconete
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paulo Alves	...	PM 1
Susana Alves	...	Samanta Rose
Roberto Audio	...	Homem da Flauta
Flavio Bauraqui	...	Homem da Caixa de Música
Boi	...	Mendigo
Alice Braga	...	Garçonete Dois
Calico	...	Homem da Perna
Jorge Cerruti	...	Homem do Olho de Vidro
Milhem Cortaz	...	Encanador
Thobias da Vai-Vai	...	Caixa da lanchonete
Wolney de Assis	...	Homem da Caneta
Estevan	...	Homem do Autógrafo
Abrahão Farc	...	Homem dos Soldadinhos

Storyline

A pawn shop proprietor buys used goods from desperate locals--as much to play perverse power games as for his own livelihood, but when the perfect rump and a backed-up toilet enter his life, he loses all control.

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Plot Keywords:

toilet | pawnshop | glass eye | bare butt | shot in the chest | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Brazil]

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

23 March 2007 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Drained

Box Office

Budget:

BRL 300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Primo Filmes, Branca Filmes, Geração Conteúdo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The protagonist walks throughout the gate of Juventus Club that is a traditional Soccer team from São Paulo Brazil.

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Connections

References Le Mans (1971)

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Soundtracks

Trilha Sonora (Soundtrack)
by Apollo Nove

User Reviews

a metaphor for Brazil

I felt odd about the movie. I know deep down I both hated it and loved it and I certainly can't stop thinking about it. It really is a sarcastic masterpiece, but very hard to watch. I didn't find it particularly funny in the spots where the audience laughed the most, and often felt horrified. I haven't read the book, which I'm sure is fantastic. Being lucky enough to have lived in Brazil for 7 years in the past, (e sim, eu falo Portuguese), I felt more and more the satiric edge of the main character as a metaphor for the worst things about Brazil lovingly portrayed by a master-- the obsession with the bunda over the female (that scene where he doesn't recognise he is not speaking to his favorite waitress till she turns around was incredible); the buying of worthless, often superstitious items over things really of value (100 rieis for a Stradavarius!?); the man constantly saying, "that smell is not from me, it's the drain;" (that line is especially deep and frightening and I understood it well); him giving all that money for the gun in a scene that looks like robbery; the fake father (leg and eye);his horrible treatment of the weak and helpless and poor; the growing obsession with the smell of his own excrement. I know the movie is a masterpiece-- the trouble is its view of the world through that glass eye is one I, too, would prefer to leave in the next room, perhaps.