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Year One
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Orfeu

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 14 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 2 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info
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:
Theatrical: August 25, 2000
DVD: February 19, 2002
Running Time: 110 minutes, Color
Origin: Brazil
Summary
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)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database
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...
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
A seductive revisiting of an old classic - one that helps us see these lovers and their world with renewed passion.
Miami Herald Curtis Morgan
It's the slum, the favela, that emerges as Orfeu's most compelling character -- criminally poor yet rich in life.
Boston Globe Staff [not credited]
A heady, sometimes blurry combination of fable, legend, and social-political commentary.
Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson
For audiences new to this type of moon-mad magical realism and unembarrassed romanticism, Orfeu can spellbind.
The New York Times Dana Stevens
Finds a sprawling, vivid middle ground somewhere between documentary and myth.
Read Full Review >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 >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 >New York Post V.A. Musetto
Fails to deliver the dramatic punch.
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
I'm not sure how much has been gained in the updating.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Ron Stringer
Unfortunately, the innovations that attend this updating dilute the iconic weight of the original.
Read Full Review >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 >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
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.
