This went a little unnoticed by most viewers back in 2016, but got a new life and wide appeal after being mocked by a social commentary/comedy
channel which ressurected this out of the blue. Obvious that I had to see it with my own eyes as the very little they showed wasn't good enough - but it
was strangely hilarious. They were right, though. It's amazingly cringe and borders on some critical issues while being a documentary about a tragedy
hosted by a known comic TV character.
60 days after the Mariana disaster, in Minas Gerais, when the Samarco mining dam ruptured and flooded with a wave of mud a great portion
of the town, devastating the place and killing 19 people, Gorete Milagres as her housemaid character Filó, along with Italian cinematographer Domenico
Pugliese, decided to see the aftermath of the disaster and visit the locals who suffered without potable water as the river from the area was highly
polluted with the toxics from the dam. Filó interviews the people, see the little of help they were getting through water distribution and barely any
other kind of assistance and makes plea to audiences to find ways to help the population.
It's a slightly commendable job as there's a higher purpose in helping people and covering some issues that weren't deeply presented on media
at the time - she visits an indigenous tribe where they even laugh at her jokes. A noble effort that cannot be ignored. As the character is presented
as someone from the crowd, a woman of the people, she was well-received by everyone and had some nice interactions.
But the main reason this documentary was hurtful and unbelievably weird was exactly in having as a host that comical character during a stressful
and difficult moment for Mariana residents. It's a double-edged sword that works since she's as a regional character who can connect with people, but on
the other side of the issue it's a funny character covering something serious and time and again using her famous catchphrase "Ô coitado!" ("Oh poor
thing"). It removes the focus from the real drama involved and makes us her laugh. Never at the tragedy and the survivors, but at her voice, the line
and other jokes. And during her narration of facts, the soundtrack keeps playing a church bell ringing all the time. Why oh why? Even those bells sounded
funny and the adjective shouldn't be put together with the Mariana accident.
Has to be seen to be believed and I'm only preventing myself of trashing it because deep down Gorete and and Pugliese had some nice intentions
with the project. But truth be told, I was the "Oh poor thing" as I kept watching the whole thing. 3/10.