CHARCOAL (CARVÃO)
Cert 15
104 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, violence, drug misuse
No wonder Charcoal has been the darling of the film festival circuit - it is a lovely little gem and deserves to be cherished.
It has certainly given us a thirst for the work of writer/director Carolina Markowicz.
She has created a quirky, occasionally funny and, at times, very dramatic movie which is almost entirely set in the shack of an impoverished Brazilian family.
Charcoal stars Maeve Jinkings as Irene who ekes a living with her husband (Rômulo Braga) while looking after her terminally ill father and impish young son (Jean de Almeida Costa).
An unexpected opportunity to bring some much-wanted money into the home comes through a proposition by a new health visitor (Camila Márdila).
Soon afterwards, they receive a mysterious guest (Cesar Bordon) in their ultra-cramped home.
And it transpires they are providing a halfway house for an Argentinian drug lord whose life has been threatened and he is pretty dismayed by his surroundings.
Therefore, there is constant tension between him and the individual members of the family who all react very differently to their new housemate.
Charcoal's edge comes from its script. There are some wonderful, unexpected lines, beautifully delivered, especially by young de Almeida Costa and some genuine surprises in the storyline.
Its setting is so unusual too - to pack so much punch in such a confined space is something of a triumph.
On the downside, there are moments of repetition but, overall, we would recommend it heartily.
Reasons to watch: Quirky but gripping drama
Reasons to avoid: A little repetitious
Laughs: Four
Jumps: One
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10
Did you know? In 2020, 5.32 per cent of the Brazilian population was living on less than $3.20 (£2.70) a day.
The final word. Carolina Markowicz: "I think I have always been very fascinated with mafia films – the way people do something that is illegal and how they do that and how they live well with that and the social differences that make this kind of thing happen." Moveablefest
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