neighboring Sounds 2.5/4

Seen on DVD.  Released 2012.
Directed and written by Kleber Mendonça Filho, 
With Irma Brown, Sebastião Formiga, Gustavo Jahn, Maeve Jinkings,   Dida Maia, Irandhir Santos, W.J. Solha

Okay , so I was excited when I saw that this was available on Netflix.  It was on the top of many critics' best of 2012 lists.  From the title and the use of the word "sounds' I thought it might be edgy and slightly experimental.  In fact, I was worried that it would be too experimental.  (I'm not a big fan of straight out experimental films -  I like to have some sort of narrative and character development).  Well it wasn't TOO experimental.  In fact, with the exceptions of a few interesting sonic offerings, it was kind of a normal film.  

Briefly, the film takes place in a rich part of Brazil where most people have servants.Most of the neighborhood is own by "The Grandfather" and a couple of his grand children are living in the neighborhood.  One has a new girlfriend and the other is always in trouble with law even though he is from a rich family.  This latter character, does bring some edginess to the film.  The town decides to hire a security firm because they are worried about the outside (poor, thieving folk from the favelas) getting into their nice neighborhood.  There is also a woman who is obsessed with the dog barking next door who tries to think of ways to silence the dog.  The movie starts with this character, so maybe that is where the title comes from, because otherwise, I don't see where the word  "Sounds" comes from thematically in the film.


For those who like sequential narratives, it might be a difficult film, but basically the narrative is episodic and it is an ensemble piece.  I enjoyed it - yes.  There were some interesting characters and I got to see a side of Brazil that I haven't seen before (I'm accustomed to seeing the favelas when I ever I watch a Brazilian film).

It might sound like I hate it, but I didn't. I like it a lot.  I just don't think it was one of the best 3 films of 2012.  It just isn't special enough.