Synopsis
José Henrique Fonseca crafts an ambitious and long overdue homage to a central icon in Brazil’s 20th century history. Reminiscent of film noir classics, the biopic tells the glorious and tragic story of the legendary football striker Heleno de Freitas. The sumptuous black and white cinematography reflects the chic life of Rio de Janeiro in the 1940s as it fell under the spell of sports royalty. Heleno was no doubt one of the most popular players of his time for his bravura in the field and magnificent goal-scoring that lead the Botafogo team to the top and himself into a vicious downward spiral.
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Cast
- Rodrigo SantoroHeleno de Freitas
- Alinne MoraesSilvia
- Angie CepedaDiamantina
- Erom CordeiroAlberto
- Mauricio TizumbaJorge
- Duda RibeiroCésar
- Orã FigueiredoBezerra
- Jean Pierre NoherDr. Souza Lima
- Othon BastosCarlito Rocha
- Herson CapriMédico da clínica
Recommendations
- 83
Entertainment Weekly
Rodrigo Santoro (Paulo on Lost, Xerxes in 300, and even better, Raúl Castro in Che) is mighty matinee-idol charismatic himself in the title role, alternating between swaggering lady-killer and ravaged victim of self-destruction. - 70
The New York Times
Though powerfully acted and dazzlingly shot (by Walter Carvalho) in heavenly black and white, Heleno is a feverish opera that, like its doomed antihero, loses vitality much too soon. - 70
Los Angeles Times
That's not to say Heleno, with its magnetic energy, sensual re-creation of 1940s and '50s Brazil and bold storytelling lacks punch; the movie is nothing if not watchable. But, by presenting more surface than depth to De Freitas' womanizing, arrogance and volatility (an implied closeness to his unseen mother is about as far as the film digs), it largely feels like an arm's length effort. - 50
Slant Magazine
The film hints at a kicky, impressionistic style that director José Henrique Fonseca never effectively employs to actually communicate Heleno de Freitas's demons. - 50
The Playlist
The movie is basically The Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Mad Man, but don't be shocked if you find yourself asking just what art he was practicing in the first place. - 40
Village Voice
You're stuck daydreaming about a far, far better movie. - 38
New York Post
What you get instead of soccer is almost two hours of late-stage syphilis. - 20
Time Out
From its flash-forward framing sequence to its glossy black and white images, the film emulates "Raging Bull" in nearly every particular, while failing to capture even a sliver of that tortured-soul sports-movie's insight or visceral power.
