Wildfire, the latest film by Portuguese director Joao Pedro Rodriguez, presented at the last Cannes Filmmakers’ Week, will be shown on screens on Wednesday. An amazing tale that plays on the hero’s temporality and memories and raises the desire.
In Portugal, an uncrowned king descended from an archaic monarchy, on his deathbed, confides in the distant memories of youth. A time when he dreamed of becoming a firefighter…
Presented at Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes Film Festival 2022, “Feu Follet” is a quirky, crazy, dream-like thriller that rocks and captivates with its outdated, formal grit (we go from 2022 to 2069) and its deeply liberating freedoms. His frank fantasy, like unbridled eroticism, uses gay symbols to the point of fanciful caricature. An unusual show that blends moral comedy, family satire and musical comedy.
The scorching heat in Portugal is not only in the dry countryside and mountains. The barracks themselves are no exception. Once he reaches a male testosterone-populated unit as in an issue of “Têtu Magazine”, the timid Alfredo will gradually get caught up in a game of subversive seduction.
A little as if Almodovar and François Ozon made a date under the lyrical and generous camera of Jacques Demme, the Portuguese filmmaker plunges us into a world that is always personal, unique and alarming (a rare fact: the film does not exceed 68 minutes), where the main actors as well as the colossal supporting roles manage to Perpetuating lovable, funny, and humane characters. Dialogues merge and the actor is always bloody. The unexpected choreography gives a boost and reinforces the horrifying purpose of the director who, without avoiding a more serious subject (how does he escape his social, intimate, professional and sexual fate?) truly delights me, is tender and communicative in depicting liberties like graffiti.
Wisp, by Joao Pedro Rodrigue. in theatres.
