Lower City

Two young men become obsessed with a prostitute.

If nothing else, Lower City is eye candy, said Andrew O'Hehir in Salon.com. With its sumptuous sunsets and writhing bodies, the movie 'œhas more than enough intensity, sizzle, and visual allure to remind you why Brazilian cinema has become so hot lately.' This particular Brazilian export is typical of the genre's ability to combine art-house filmmaking with Jerry Springer situations'”here a prostitute joins two old friends, and their three-way turns into a love triangle. Even all the rough sex and violence can't distract us from the fact that Lower City is 'œa bone-tired tale underneath,' said Michael Atkinson in The Village Voice. Count Y Tu Mamá También and Jules et Jim among the films that have done this theme a million times better. By the time the movie fizzles out, it's exhausted every plot cliché in the book. Thank goodness for Alice Braga, the niece of great Brazilian screen star Sonia Braga, said A.O. Scott in The New York Times. As the sexually forthright prostitute, Karinna, she gives a 'œtough and candid performance' that almost saves the film.

Rating: R

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us