From Beginning to End
| From Beginning to End | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Aluizio Abranches |
| Produced by |
Aluizio Abranches Fernando Libonati Marco Nanini Iker Monfort |
| Written by | Aluizio Abranches |
| Starring |
Rafael Cardoso João Gabriel Vasconcellos Júlia Lemmertz Fábio Assunção |
| Music by | André Abujambra |
| Cinematography | Ueli Steiger |
| Edited by | Fábio S. Limma |
Production company |
Lama Filmes |
| Distributed by | TLA Releasing |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Brazil |
| Language |
Portuguese Spanish English |
| Budget | $1 million[1] |
| Box office | $400,422[2] |
From Beginning To End is a Brazilian movie made in 2009. It is the third feature film directed by Aluizio Abranches. Starring Fábio Assunção, Júlia Lemmertz, Gabriel Kaufmann, Lucas Cotrim, João Gabriel Vasconcellos and Rafael Cardoso. The movie premiered in Brazil in November 27th, 2009. The movie deals with two types of relationship that are often considered taboos (homosexuality and incest). Abranches claims that his only intention was to tell a love story.
The release of the movie in Brazil, with only 9 copies, was seen by almost 100 thousand spectators, leading the movie to be on the list of the top 10 most watched Brazilian movies of 2009. It was exhibited in more than 30 national and international festivals, and it was commercialized also in more than 30 countries. In 2010 it was released in DVD in Brazil with success. In France, after a very successful premiere in the movie theaters, the first edition of the DVD and Blu-ray was sold out in less than 2 weeks, and it became a best seller till nowadays in international websites such as Fnac and amazon.com.
Plot
- 1986 — Thomás is born with his eyes closed, and he does not open them for several weeks following the birth. Julieta, his mother, is unconcerned, believing that when Thomás is ready and wants to open his eyes, he will. These events instill a strong belief in free will in young Thomás. Two weeks after his birth, Thomás opens his eyes, apparently to look directly at his five-year-old half-brother Francisco.
- 1992 — Julieta is a wife and a loving mother, working in a hospital emergency department. Her free-spirited youngest son, Thomás, is the product of her marriage to her second husband Alexandre. Pedro, her first husband and father of her eldest son Francisco, lives in Argentina. Pedro and Julieta remain good friends. During childhood, Francisco and Thomás are very close, perhaps too close according to Pedro, with whom they spend a Christmas holiday in Buenos Aires. Julieta is aware of their close relationship and tries to remain understanding. Not long later, Pedro dies.
- 2008 — Years later, when Francisco is 27 and Thomás 22, Julieta dies. The brothers become lovers and an unusual love story ensues. Thomás is invited to live and train in Russia for a few years in preparation for the Olympics. Though it is the first time they will be apart, Thomás leaves. Francisco struggles without Thomás. He meets a woman in a club and though he tries to pursue a relationship with her, they both realize he is dedicated to someone else. Unable to be apart any longer, Francisco travels to Russia and the brothers reunite.
Cast
- Rafael Cardoso as Thomás (at age 20)
- João Gabriel Vasconcellos as Francisco (at age 25)
- Júlia Lemmertz as Julieta (mother)
- Fábio Assunção as Alexandre (father of Thomás)
- Jean Pierre Noher as Pedro (father of Francisco)
- Louise Cardoso as Rosa
- Mausi Martínez
- Gabriel Kaufmann as Thomás (at age six)
- Lucas Cotrim as Francisco (at age 11)
Production
Filming
The movie was filmed almost entirely in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Parts of the movie were filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Music
The soundtrack was released in December 2009, and has been a huge hit all over Brazil. It brings together several big names from Brazilian pop music such as Maria Bethania, Angela Ro Ro, Simone and Zizi Possi. Songs like "Summer 78", "Folhas de Outono", "Saudade" and "Outono" have become the biggest hits on this album.[3]
| Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "O Leãozinho (Little Lion)" | Caetano Veloso | 3:39 |
| 2. | "Lágrimas de Diamantes (Diamond Tears)" | Paulinho Moska | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Ne me quitte pas" | Maria Gadú | 5:47 |
| 4. | "Tango pra Tereza (Tango for Tereza)" | Ney Matogrosso | 4:05 |
| 5. | "Elevador (The Lift)" | André Abujamra | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Porque Eu Sei Que é Amor (Because I know that it is love)" | Titãs | 4:17 |
| 7. | "Folhas de Outono (Autumn Leaves)" | Zizi Possi & Ana Carolina | 3:46 |
| 8. | "Presente Passado (Present Past)" | Isabela Taviani | 4:36 |
| 9. | "Um Dia Um Adeus (One Day A Good-Bye)" | Vanessa da Mata | 4:14 |
| 10. | "Seu Olhar (Your Look)" | Seu Jorge | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Bilhete no Fim (Message at the End)" | Paulinho Moska | 3:58 |
| 12. | "Vidas Inteiras (Lifetime)" | Adriana Calcanhotto | 4:12 |
| 13. | "Repare nos Meus Olhos (Pay Attention To My Eyes)" | Zélia Duncan | 3:49 |
| 14. | "Canção de Amor (Love Song)" | Bebel Gilberto | 4:45 |
| 15. | "Bem Pra Você (Good for You)" | Simone | 3:44 |
| 16. | "Se Chovesse Você (If It Rains You)" | Eliana Printes & Chico César | 4:58 |
| 17. | "Saudade (Missing You)" | Lenine & Maria Bethânia | 3:45 |
| 18. | "Todo Sentimento (Every Feeling)" | Chico Buarque | 5:04 |
| 19. | "Só Vou Gostar de Quem Gosta de Mim (I'll Only Love Who Loves Me)" | Eliana Printes | 5:18 |
| 20. | "Outono (Autumn)" | Angela Ro Ro | 3:29 |
| 21. | "Suburbano Coração (Suburban Heart)" | Monica Salmaso | 3:34 |
| 22. | "Summer 78" | Yann Tiersen | 3:06 |
| Total length: | 80:00 | ||
Release
The film attracted more than ten thousand viewers during its weekend debut. Playing in only nine theaters (compared with 550 showing 2012), the film finished sixth place during its opening weekend.[4]
The film was shown on May 26 during the 2010 Seattle International Film Festival. In June 26 during the 2010 Frameline Film Festival. In July 9 during the 2010 Outfest Film Festival and July 15 during the 2010 QFest.[5]
Marketing
The director put the film's trailer on YouTube, generating more than 400,000 views and comments which ranged from outrage to enthusiasm.
Reception
Box office performance
From Beginning to End grossed $62,081 in nine theaters its opening weekend, $365,094 in second weekend, the film finished sixth place during its opening weekend.[6] The film went on to gross $386,049 in Brazil and $14,373 in Taiwan, for a foreign total of $400,422.[7]
Critical reception
The film has received mixed reviews, some praising it for retaining a good plot while transcending boundaries and others condemning it as an ordinary plot using the subject matter to gain attention.[8][9][10]
References
- ↑ http://www.cinepop.com.br/filmes/do_comeco_ao_fim.htm
- ↑ BOX OFFICE - FROM BEGINNING TO END.
- ↑ From Beginning to End (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
- ↑ "'Lua nova' ultrapassa 3 milhões de espectadores e já é o sétimo filme mais visto do ano no Brasil". December 1, 2009. Retrieved 02/12/2009. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ SIFF.net.
- ↑ From Beginning to End - Box Office.
- ↑ From Beginning to End - Weekend Box Office.
- ↑ Review - DVD Verdict - Brett Cullum.
- ↑ Entertainment Film News - Jorge Ameer.
- ↑ GayCelluloid - David Hall.
External links
- Official website (in Portuguese)
- Do Começo ao Fim on IMDb