Neon Bull

Well, this is certainly something different. I can't think what the last Brazilian film was I saw but it was certainly nothing like this. Set in rural Brazil this colourful little piece depicts a group taking a number of bulls on the road to participate in a series of rodeos. The whole thing is mind boggling, the show itself seems only to consist of two horseman trapping one of the bulls between them and then competing to turn the animal over by pulling its tale. Along the way we get a prize bull being masturbated in an attempt to steal its semen and an explicit sex scene wth a beautiful and heavily pregnant lady security guard cum seller of perfume to those labouring amidst all the muck. There is charm and interest plus a little humour and some glorious photography though very little narrative as such.

Behind the scenes of the vaquejadas, Iremar and a group of cowboys prepare the bulls before releasing them into the arena. The daily routine is intense and visceral, but Iremar's ambitions are greater: lying in his hammock mounted on the back of the truck, he dreams of sequins, exquisite fabrics and fashion designs.

Slow, which even in 1.5 seemed slow, a sincere and delicate portrait of the struggle of the countryside, the ill-fated agro, with a strong and pleasant accent, rudimentary and rupestrian life, a dazzling chaotic energy, whether due to the strength of these people, the joy of small pleasures, the family affection, the sex scenes, of fantastic poetry and aesthetic beauty, with tenderness and aridity, the sad condescension of the lack of hope, the infamous poverty and the inversion of gender roles, perfect and necessary...

Beautiful film, thoughtful, intriguing with wonderful cinematography and performances and some great, inventive well-written scenes, definitely worth watching. But: Do not watch if you cannot see animal cruelty depicted. No idea what obscenely cruel humans invented and still perpetuate this absolutely horrible bull sport depicted in the film, some have tried to ban it but been overruled by 'cultural' exceptions' -culture should not excuse it- it is horrifying.

We all have heard something about Brazil. Carnival, favelas, soccer... One thing that I discovered watching this film is that I truly no nothing about this country and that still being a mystery to me, what is magical by the way. Different from some famous Brazilian movies (like City of God) Boi Neon don't talk about poverty or favelas, actually it's a movie about possibilities and dreams. The story of Iremar, a cowpoke who dreams with glitter and dresses show us a new world of possibilities coming from all Brazil. A truly beautiful way to tell the story of a nation who is constantly changing, full of hope and creativity. Director Gabriel Mascaro films all his character as an observer, someone from outside that don't even wants to move a hand to interfere in such a natural spectacle. At the same time his fascination almost eat the screen and this ferocity can reflect in the audience, completely enrapture. Boi Neon (Neon Bull) is magic, dream, a new way to see a country, a new way to see films. It's definitely not the kind of film we see everyday.

I don't know if this is allowed but here goes. I see a lot of movies and submit a review for most of them. I really didn't know how to describe neon bull so I didn't review it. I just wanted to say that the review by eurogary (see above) says pretty much what I was thinking but couldn't manage to put down on paper, so to speak. a cowboy's journey through a few days of his life. it is really a very good movie and unusual. one thing I would point out is that even in eastern brazil, where there doesn't seem to be a lot going on, web addresses appear on most of the advertising signs filmed. it is a small world after all. and yes indeed, this is not a movie for prudes.