Aya Arcos (2014)

Gripping story with well-crafted characters

Admirable film.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

SPOILERS **** Aya Arcos shows the daily interactions between Eduardo, and Fabio, a young, local prostitute who becomes more than that. Sparse script, sparse music, sparse action. A lot of sitting around, talking. Much discussion about safe sex versus un-safe sex. Eduardo is a (moody) Brazilian writer, and he vacillates on what he wants at any one moment. Starts out quite slow, gets quite dark in the middle, then picks up . One character finds out that he is HIV positive, and must face up to what comes next. There is SO little talk between the characters in the first half that sometimes its hard to figure out what's going on, or how they are feeling. Eduardo doesn't seem to get along with Fabio's "friends", and it seems the feeling is mutual. And we never do find out why one character disappears suddenly... was it due to someone else's HIV results?? In lieu of any other information, I assume this is what we are supposed to think. There is one quick scene of Fabio either working at a job, or on a prison detail. I guess knowing the local customs would have been a help there. This seems to be the only project from writer/director Max Moll. Script needed zinging up or something, but gets much better in the second half. Subtitles seem to be good, but as I don't know any Portuguese, I guess I don't really know. It's also too bad the characters aren't matched to the actor's names in the credits. Worth watching, but I wish they had started developing the characters a little earlier in the film. Available on DVD.

This is a nice movie, offers surprisingly good acting and builds multi layer story very successfully despite some setbacks with its minimal budget. Director Maximilian Moll does a wonderful job to develop a story on prejudice, love, companion, sacrifice, and impact on social values on lifestyle choices. I think, presenting this movie as story of a street hustler and his long-time customer does injustice to the multi-layered scenario. My five star goes to Daniel Passi particularly, who delivers tour de force performance reflecting complexities of a hustler who struggles between his personal emotions and real-life facts. A small gem from Brazil cinema.

Fabio is a hustler who works the streets of Rio and he meets Eduardo who is much older and also a writer. They start a relationship but have issues around the use of protection, commitment and choices of friends let alone 'career'.Now that is about it, the subject of STI's is dealt with in an interesting way and there are side issues with one of Fabio's friends. However, not a lot happens here. It is a small budget affair – filmed in real apartments etc – and some of the shots were really tasteful but that can not detract from the glaring lack of a real plot. The characters are actually acted fairly well and there is a genuine feeling of warmth here but that of itself is not really enough.This is not a keeper as such – you may wish to rent as I did but there is very little here to make you a fan. Also very little in the form of 'bedroom action' if that is your thing, so not one I can really recommend unless you have to see everything 'gay' related that comes out and you may find something to like here.