Estômago (2007) Online

"Estômago" is director Marcos Jorge's second feature film, but the first to be released (his feature debut, "Corpos Celestes", still awaits distribution). It's based on Lusa Silvestre's short story "Presos pelo Estômago" and tells the story of Raimundo Nonato, a destitute Northeast peasant who migrates to São Paulo and discovers that his talent for cooking may guarantee his survival in the big town and open doors to power and sex, but also crime.

The film unfolds in two parallel, cross-cutting narratives (linear story-telling is a "disease" to be avoided in 2000s cinema, it seems): 1) Nonato's rise from underdog aid in a cheap, fly-infested snack joint, exploited by sweaty boss Zulmiro, to becoming the protégé of sophisticated Italian-cuisine chef Giovanni, meanwhile falling in love with voluptuous and voracious prostitute Iria; and 2) Nonato's life in prison (we only know why he got there in the end of the movie), trying to learn the codes, rules and peculiar hierarchy of jail life, as he struggles for survival and "social-climbing" through his cooking talents.

There are countless influences/references at play here, from "La Grande Bouffe" to "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover", from "Jamón Jamón" and "Tampopo" to "Babette's Feast". But the flavor of "Estômago" is essentially Brazilian, thanks to main character Nonato. He escapes from being a caricature (the naive, ignorant, good-natured, not very bright Northeast hick) solely through the irresistible empathy, perfect comedy-timing, quick wit and stray dog quality of João Miguel's performance (he won the Best Actor award in Rio's 2007 International Film Festival for this role). He's got one of those endlessly watchable faces: we can follow his every little thought, and as fast as he wishes us to. He makes the film stand firmly on track even when the direction strays through lull spots, hesitations and contrivances, and he delivers his burger-quality lines as if they were caviar. In barely 3 years and a half-dozen films, João Miguel proves to be one of the most likable and resourceful actors working in Brazilian movies right now.

You can tell João Miguel's towering contribution to the success of "Estômago" if you consider how everything else in the movie is just average: the script tries too hard to be smart and squeeze the laughs out of the so-so jokes. There are overlong, repetitive scenes, and most of the actors are directed to play types, not characters -- Babu Santana once again does his trademark angry-bulldog gangsta role; Fabiula Nascimento is shamelessly exploited for her opulent Fellinian body rather than her acting talents; Carlo Briani (as Giovanni) and Zeca Cenovicz (as Zulmiro) give stagy performances.

Some other aspects are rather annoying, such as the totally misconceived Morricone- inspired music by Giovanni Venosta ("Pani e Tulipani"); the terribly fake hookers (they're the sweetest, happiest street whores ever); the phony prison inmates (it's got to be the whitest- populated prison in Brazil); and the idiosyncrasies involving "l'art de la cuisine" -- it's hard to believe that a sophisticated Italian chef would find Nonato's salty and cholesterol- friendly cooking (typical of Northeast Brazil) so sublime, or that Nonato could "leap" from being an expert in greasy Brazilian snacks like "coxinhas" and "pastéis" to master the complexities of correctly cooking meat and pork by being a trainee in a pasta-specialty restaurant.

* SPOILER * But most annoying of all is the denouement. Striving for a "witty ending", the director and the writers withhold important changes that should have been in process in Nonato's character just for the sake of taking us by surprise; nevertheless, it's a cliché, pseudo-smart ending. If the goal was to tell a story about how a bon sauvage is corrupted by society and ends up learning to be a smart-ass by using the same weapons as his oppressors, the preparation and transformation in Nonato and the arc in João Miguel's acting are missing (whose fault is that? The actor's, the script's, the director's?). As it is, the resolution feels blunt and over-reaching, like an under-baked, artificially colorized dessert that somewhat spoils the honest, simple, home-made meal that came before it. * END OF SPOILER *

Anyhow, "Estômago" certainly deserves to be seen: its communication with the audience is evident, it has truly funny moments, and João Miguel's winning performance is the very special ingredient that makes the recipe irresistibly tasty.

I saw this movie on the international film festival of Rotterdam, where it was rated 2nd on the audience price. Beautiful small and funny film, which you must see with a full stomach. A Brazilian / Italian co - production made with eye for detail, intelligent humor and some very funny twists, which seem to be very logical at the end of the movie. Two hours of entertainment, acted very well by all actors and a movie which will definitely find his way in all the festivals to become a major hit worldwide. I don't want to get into the story, it's one of those films who helps you to escape from the real world for a small two hours and from which you always thinks, why do i not see more movies like this? I really recommend this movie to an large audience. So go see this one, in a theater near by you or after dinner with your partner or some best friends.

I enjoyed very much this film. It seems to be a simple story about a man -Raimundo, who comes to the big city and earns his living doing the only thing he knows: cooking. His talent leads him to know the owner of an Italian restaurant, and a prostitute. I like very much the way the film shows the relationship between them: seduction, obedience and competition. the story is easy to follow, amusing and sometimes funny. Anyway, I don't think this is all. Estomago (stomach) provides an interesting and sharp looking to our society: Both in business and in prison, there are rules to follow; power relationships according to abilities, strength, or money. Everyone is a victim in some way, but it is also guilty.

The naive immigrant from the Northeast Raimundo Nonato (João Miguel) has just arrived in São Paulo and is hungry and without money. After eating in a smalltime restaurant, the owner Zulmiro (Zeca Cenovicz) offers him to clean the kitchen to pay the bill. On the next morning, he offers a job to Nonato, cooking and cleaning the kitchen; in return, he would eat and sleep in a small storage room, but without salary. The restaurant becomes a sensation with Nonato's appetizers "coxinha" and "pastel" and attracts the attention of Giovanni (Carlo Briani), the owner of the classy Italian restaurant Boccaccio, who offers a better job for him in the kitchen of his restaurant and teaches him the secrets of a good meal. Meanwhile, Nonato falls in love for the always hungry fat streetwalker Íria (Fabiula Nascimento), who refuses to kiss Nonato in the mouth, but has all sort of sex with him. Nonato proposes her and near to the day of their engaging party, he has a great deception that leads him to a tragedy.

Raimundo Nonato a.k.a. "Alecrim" arrives in prison and shares a cell with seven prisoners leaded by Bujiú (Babu Santana). When the despised Nonato offers to improve their food cooking in the cell, he climbs in the inner hierarchy, sleeping no longer on the floor, but in the bunk bed immediately below Bujiú and earning respect from the other inmates.

Food and cooking is the theme of many successful movies, like for example, Marco Ferreri's "La Grande Bouffe" (1973), Gabriel Axel's "Babettes Gæstebud" (1987), Peter Greenaway's "The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover" (1989), Tony Chan's "Combination Platter" (1993), Fina Torres'"Woman on Top" (2000) and Scott Hicks' "No Reservations" (2007), just to mention a few movies. There are countless good movies and series about relationship and hierarchy in prison, and "Prison Break" is probably one of the most recently famous. Therefore the theme of "Estômago" is not original but is commercial since viewers usually like it; further most of the characters are clichés. However "Estômago" is literally a delightful movie, supported by the great acting of João Miguel that is the reason why this movie works. The two parallel stories have the intention to hide the chronology and unfold only in the very end what had happened first, but unfortunately it fails and the only remaining question is why Nonato ended in jail. In accordance with the summary on the DVD, the conclusion is that in life there are those who devour and those who are devoured, but Raimundo Nonato finds an alternative way of life cooking. Two days ago, "Estômago" had fourteen nominations and was awarded by the Academia Brasileira de Cinema ("Brazilian Academy of Cinema") in the categories of best Brazilian movie of the year, best director and best supporting actor and was elected best movie by popular vote. On 28 April 2009, I watched this movie again. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Estômago" ("Stomach")

There are few movies out there that I will take the time to watch a second time, and even fewer movies that make me sincerely chuckle at some scenes. Estomago was one of those movies for me. It's not well known outside the borders of Brazil, but if you're looking for some good Brazilian dark comedies, this one is one of the better ones alongside O Cheiro do Ralo. I won't go into the details of the plot, but suffice it to say, it's a fun watch for those who like revenge fantasies and messed-up characters from the fringes of society who diabolically plot revenge in clever ways. Repeat after me: "Nonato CANIVETE!" One of my favourites of many good bits in this fun-to-watch film.

I saw the movie at the ninth edition of the Rio International Film Festival. Estômago, a Gastronomic Story, wins four awards at Latin America's largest movie showcase. It's about Nonato (João Miguel), who immigrant from the northeast to the south of Brazil and becomes a talented cook. He uses his talent to get a better life and to get the attention of a a voracious and beautiful prostitute Iri (Fabiola Nascimento) The official jury gave "Estomago" a special jury prize as well as awards for best director and best actor (Joao Miguel). The Brazil-Italy co-production also took home the audience award. "Estomago" centers on a talented cook who aims to use his culinary skills to gain power and love.

No matter what one might think... a classic is not a classic by luck. And as time goes by we see fewer and fewer good results of good cinema. Both good surprises of 2008 were In Bruges and Estomago.

Estomago is a tour-De-force by Joao Miguel; however, when was the last time you saw a sex scene with such "good taste" that reveals the whole spectrum of a film? That is impossible to deny, and the film delivers tragedy of the commons in a sort of polite way, just like school books and some teachers do, except, in Estomago, we must accept that whoever starved for some kind of food for a particular period, will say, "yeah, now I'm full", or "revenge is best served grilled".

The best thing about Estomago is how it portraits the process of how "alecrim" got his nickname, and this "progress" also is very well connected with prostitution of all beings, so therefore, whenever one learns the weight of a kiss, or who one might choose to kiss, and why one does it, then this happy "one" will be able to play As Time Goes By and say a kiss will always be a kiss, because it can mess with your mind, your stomach... your whole life!

I went to see a movie called Elegy at 12:15 pm show in Amsterdam and realized that it was running only at 1:30 pm; instantly browsed the list of movies and selected this strange looking name – Estomago - I thought it was Italian, later realized it was Portuguese. Never knew the meaning till writing this review – it means Stomach.

Nonato (Joao Miguel) comes to Sao Paulo city – without any work; after eating food and with no money with him to pay for food, he lands up being hired as a helper cook in a small roadside restaurant. His skills in cooking delicious food with simple things make him hired by a rich high-end restaurant owner Giovanni (Carlo Briani). Nonato falls in love with a prostitute Iria (Fabiula Nascimento), but one day when he sees Iria and Giovanni having sex, his jealously leads him to kill both and Nonato ends up in prison. In prison cell with seven other inmates and headed by Bujiu (Babu Santana), Nonato starts at the lowest hierarchy sleeping without mattress on the floor. But his skills in cooking excellent food promotes him till the highest bumk bed below Bujiu. How he topples Bujiu to get the highest bunk bed formulates the ending of the story.

The story runs in parallel narrative of Nonato's work and prison and till the very end one does not realize that which precedes which? This is director Marcos Jorge's second movie and first full length feature film. He tempers the narrative with great acumen of seasoned director – fantastic story idea (adopted partly from a short story – the prison part) and remaining written partly by Marcos himself in a team. Brilliant work in creating a screenplay that is laced with various moods, emotions, and cooking and food lessons.

Joao Miguel – plays this innocent, dumb wit cook, and creates magic in filling true life in the character. Those moments in the film – when nothing is happening – Joao captures our imagination as a simpleton with a talent. Fabiula, fits perfectly as the road side – food hungry prostitute. The remaining casting is good and performs well.

The movie is marketed as a fable – and it seems appropriate – because of its story and ingredients of sex, love, power, food.

I would highly recommend this movie to any movie goer – who is hungry for good cinema.

(Stars 8 out of 10)

A poor Brazilian guy (cliché) from the northeast(cliché) comes to southeast (cliché) to get something and be someone(cliché). He is so silly that does dumb things and get in trouble (cliché). Its a great movie (wow, not a cliché).

I'm not complaining. The movie is really really fun. Its well written and you get into the story and the main character. I've just forgot about all the clichés and watched until I discovered why he was arrest (as you know in the first second of the movie).

The only thumb down is about the others characters. Seems like they've put all the efforts on the main and forgot about make them look real or possible.

This is it. This movie have a lot of good idea. But the crew did not got it.

This movie is worth it just for the camera work. There are so many scenes that just grab your emotions by the throat and jerk them around with how strong the image is. The camera captures trivial moments with such detail and delightful symphony that these details become overwhelming to the enchanted viewer.

The story is not really amazing or surprising, but the movie does a great job of making that irrelevant. It's a character movie that allows you to see how food moves a main character in its relations with the world. This main character, albeit simple, never ceases to surprise us with the quirky way he sees the world. Add a little bit of food magic, and you've got this movie wrapped up.

A simple thing, yet a joy to watch.

overall, I liked this film. the parallel scenes boost the suspense , and especially the scenes in jail -the cell-,and mostly Raimundo's inmates,-their facial characteristics- were much superb. On top of this, the gentle music that kicked in with the sight of food was quite amusing and caused laughter.Like many other Latin American movies,much attention was given to the narrow pathways which surround the area.The ending was quite expected,but the way the ending happened, was the contrary, where,admittedly,I was left with a bitter sweet taste. BUT the one and only who made the movie , is Joao Miguel. the staggering expressions, the alterations of his feelings, the movement of his body, everything, made his performance superior. 7/10

An excellent raw movie - Brazilian styled - with an intelligent writing and brilliant and intense acting. It goes through social issues - frequently revitised by Brazilian directors - such as crime, jails, prostitution and the employer/ employee tension. On human condition, the movie focus on trust and hierarchic position (both in society and jail) and how to climb it to the top (literally) and the benefits it brings. Meanwhile - within parallel story lines - there's a peculiar romance taking place with the ghost of betrayal always present, the same ghost that appeared when the gifted chef abandoned the "cochinhas" restaurant. To be honest, I think the soundtrack is, perhaps, the downside of the movie.

I thought this movie was reasonable... it tries really hard to come off as convincing that an impoverished transient born in the most godforsaken land in Brazil could become a master chef at a luxury restaurant.. it's obviously possible, even more when that's what the script says happens. Anyway... the 2 story lines show our man Nonato in jail for an unknown crime and his induction into the world of food. In the process, he falls in love with a prostitute, believing she is pure of heart... Now, we are expected to believe that his murderous rages are unleashed by alcohol, which would lead to assume that he operates at an inhibited level routinely. This is hard to swallow.. he is the most naive and submissive person possible, what the hell is there to be inhibited... Anyway, that's beside the point, everyone has primitive urges that can be released by a diversity of triggers. This is compounded by the idea that he develops (SPOILLLERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR) a plan to poison the alpha male in prison in order to get the top bunk-bed, and does so without the social lubricant. I don't know.. it's a semi-entertaining movie... but still... It also tries to show a symbolic meaning in how he butchered the hooker at the end. Watch it if you can do so for free.