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Orfeu
New Yorker Films

Orfeu reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 52 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.0 out of 10
based on 14 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 2 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: Not rated

Starring Toni Garrido, Patrícia França, Murilo Benício, and Zezé Motta

The re-telling of the Greek mythical love affair between Orfeu and Eurídice transplanted to modern-day Brazil. (New Yorker Films)


GENRE(S): Romance  
WRITTEN BY: João Emanuel Carneiro
Vinicius De Moraes (play Orfeu da Conceição)
Carlos Diegues
Paulo Lins
 
DIRECTED BY: Carlos Diegues  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: February 19, 2002 
Video: February 19, 2002 
Theatrical: August 25, 2000 
RUNNING TIME: 110 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: Brazil 
LANGUAGE(S): Portugese (with English subtitles) 

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
A seductive revisiting of an old classic - one that helps us see these lovers and their world with renewed passion.
80
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Totally captivating, as seductive as a samba.
Read Full Review
75
Miami Herald Curtis Morgan
It's the slum, the favela, that emerges as Orfeu's most compelling character -- criminally poor yet rich in life.
75
Boston Globe Staff [not credited]
A heady, sometimes blurry combination of fable, legend, and social-political commentary.
70
Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson
For audiences new to this type of moon-mad magical realism and unembarrassed romanticism, Orfeu can spellbind.
60
The New York Times Dana Stevens
Finds a sprawling, vivid middle ground somewhere between documentary and myth.
Read Full Review
60
TV Guide Ken Fox
Dazzlingly colorful.
Read Full Review
50
San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
A film one watches at an emotional remove, but from that distance there are sights and moments to appreciate.
Read Full Review
50
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak
While the film is technically polished and visually breathtaking, it lacks depth and becomes little more than a lawless fairy tale packed with pretty people.
Read Full Review
50
New York Post V.A. Musetto
Fails to deliver the dramatic punch.
50
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
I'm not sure how much has been gained in the updating.
Read Full Review
50
LA Weekly Ron Stringer
Unfortunately, the innovations that attend this updating dilute the iconic weight of the original.
Read Full Review
40
Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten
All in all, though, this Brazilian import is a small curiosity, intriguing more for its failures than its accomplishments.
Read Full Review
20
Village Voice Dennis Lim
Hovers between mythic poetry and earthbound grit; the result is an inert, drably florid spectacle.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Akira A. gave it a 9:
It is a captivating movie that everyone should see!!

[Anonymous] gave it a 7:
Not bad.

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