‘Assalto na Paulista’ recalls the classic noir with the signs of underdevelopment in Brazil

The film is directed by Flávio Frederico and stars Eriberto Leão and Bianca Bin; watch the trailer

Assault on Paulista it adds characteristics of the American genre to the Brazilian peculiarities. It reminds me of the noir classics like The secret of jewels (Asphalt jungle1950), from John Huston, with the preparation of the robbery, description of the background of the characters, the complexity of the operation and the problems that occurred after the theft. However, the film Flavio Federicowith screenplay by Mariana Pamplona, is based on a real case, when a branch of a bank in the financial heart of São Paulo was robbed and nearly 200 private underground safes were hacked by the gang. It also bears the signs of the country’s underdevelopment, this mix of refinement and amateurism present both in the official world and in the criminal environment.

Eriberto Leão plays Rubens, a bandit from the interior of São Paulo who devises the so-called perfect plan, after which he and the gang will be able to retire and live on income. With him there is a group of professionals, among which Leonia stands out, played by Bianca Bin. Leonia had been “adopted” by Rubens when she was still a girl, escaping from Bahia where he had shot and killed a molester very close to her.

The film follows the chronological order of the robbery, but interspersed with flashbacks of some characters, notably Rubens and Leonia. As they have been seen since childhood, there is an intention to humanize them. The constant concern, in fact, is to avoid stereotyped and gaunt types, a proposal that is realized in almost all of the work, with the exception of some lapses and clichés.

There is also an intention to do a modern thriller, with restless camera movements and clever framing. The soundtrack of Offer, associated with titles from different Brazilian music genres, it produces good agile work, without paying a fine for speeding. Take a few moments to breathe. The proposal is realistic, even if, within this frame of reference, it is not clear how a captured character can show himself so fit.

Frederico is the author, among other things, of a documentary on the guerrilla warfare Iara Yavelberg (Looking for Iara2013) and the adaptation of an autobiographical tale of the king of Boca do Lixo in São Paulo, Hiroito de Moraes Joanides (Mouth, 2010). He has a good hand for action movies, but he is always looking for something more: the subjectivity of the characters. It is your greatest asset in this Assault on Paulista. We see in Eriberto Leão’s Rubens the brutal criminal, but in some places also the fragile man. In Bianca’s Leonia, under the cover of her decision, lies the woman marked by a childhood of mistreatment.

Humanizing outlaw characters is not about apologizing for their crimes, but about giving them the benefit of human depth and complexity. It is a favor done to the viewer, not to the fictional characters involved here, involved in a fictional plot, albeit inspired by real events.

Source: Terra

Emily

Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.