It is a documentary portrait of the streets of a city that could be yours.
This documentary of Rui Simões brings me the memory of one of the most iconic songs of "ala dos namorados", "mads of Lisbon." Indeed, it is the perfect soundtrack for this portrait of the shadows that inhabit the towns, the invisible, the untouchables of our society today, that wander off and live without any dignity, the ones that are rescued by a legion of volunteers, social workers and other technician of institutions that such as they too are anonymous in this urban fabric that is more and more dehumanized. The documentary is not innovative in the sense that portrays the bitter side of some homeless people, each of the "characters" tell their story, their unhappiness, perhaps its more acutely characteristic is that there is a transposition of color for black and white. The images acquire an even more harsh tone; I would say even harder when that change occurs. The documentary immortalizes them and somehow humanizes them, without trivializing. Moreover, this type of subterfuge used by the film director who really wants to put a greater emphasis in certain scenes turns out to be a signature common in young Portuguese filmmakers. It is curious. I have spoken here of other documentary work that appealed to images in black and white. To close, all I have to say is that it's a cruel portrait of a society, but at the same time is also the struggle of those who do not give up these sorrow people. Good movie.
