Tabu

Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1930s Rio de Janeiro, the fictional encounter between two Brazilian literary figures, Lamartine Babo and Oswald de Andrade, forms the crux of the haunting and poignant film "Tabu." Directed by Miguel Gomes, known for his lyrical and philosophical approach to storytelling, the movie is a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the passage of time. The film weaves a complex narrative that delves into the intersection of art and life, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Oswald de Andrade, portrayed by his alter ego, Carlos Alberto Ricarte, is a poet and playwright who embodies the rebellion and modernity of the Brazilian avant-garde movement. Through his words and actions, Oswald embodies the spirit of revolution, challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of art and literature. On the other hand, Lamartine Babo, played by Ricardo Pereira, is a popular songwriter and composer who represents the commercialization of art and the soullessness of the entertainment industry. His art is mere commodity, driven by financial gain rather than creative passion. This dichotomy sets the stage for a tension-filled encounter between the two, as Oswald's radical ideologies collide with Lamartine's mundane, romanticized world. Their meeting is triggered by a chance encounter at a seedy Rio nightclub, where Oswald spots a girl with a rare beauty and immediately becomes infatuated. The girl, known as Teresa (played by Teresa Madruga), is a beautiful and intriguing young woman who embodies the enchantment of the unknown. Oswald sees in her an untouchable beauty, a symbol of the pure and the unattainable. She represents the mystique of the "tabu," a concept that is central to Owen Chandor's novel of the same name, upon which the film is loosely based. As Oswald becomes obsessed with this mysterious girl, he writes a series of sonnets to her, encapsulating his thoughts, emotions, and desires. These sonnets serve as a poetic rendering of his inner turmoil, a poignant exploration of his feelings, and a glimpse into the world of Oswald's troubled mind. Meanwhile, Lamartine becomes increasingly transfixed by the same girl, and the conflict between Oswald's revolutionary ideas and Lamartine's mercenary approach to art creates a volatile situation. The atmosphere of "Tabu" is characterized by a vivid use of color, architecture, and costume design, transporting audiences to the vibrant world of 1930s Rio de Janeiro. The city becomes a living, breathing entity, capturing the beauty, the decay, and the endless passion of a world torn between tradition and modernity. Every frame is filled with textures, sounds, and details, evoking the sensory experience of the vibrant, decaying city, over which the influence of Indian and European colonialism can be seen. Teresa, the central enigma of the story, moves toward Oswald or away from Lamartine, depending on circumstance. Their various personal experiences, that for apparent reasons they find one another, would get reflected in their unrelenting experiences that they keep in secret and develop deep passion as a consequence.