DIVINE LOVE – Review

DIVINE LOVE (DIVINO AMOR) is a low-key piece of speculative fiction set in 2027 Brazil. In this Brazilian film, the culture is managed by a highly intrusive tech-driven bureaucracy, with a burgeoning hard-core religious influence. Joana (Dira Paes) is a fortyish notary whose job is processing divorces. But her fervent belief system compels her to wheedle applicants into trying to stay together. One of the tools for persuasion is recruiting them to visit her cultish organization called Supreme Love, which zeroes in on marital stability and procreation. One of their methods involves spouse-swapping as a prelude to climax, which must only occur with one’s partner. It only takes two to screw but four for foreplay. Their legendary annual Carnival has been supplanted by some sort of faith-based rave concerts. Don’t ask why this is a good idea, just go with the flow… as it were.

Joana’s faith is sorely tested by her inability to conceive with her husband Danilo (Julio Machado) despite all sorts of extreme measures. For all she does, including 11 saved marriages, God owes her a fetus of her own. She discusses this regularly with her pastor at his drive-thru confessional, complete with recorded hymns and holy mist for spiritual atmosphere. All of this is narrated by an anonymous child’s voice-over, as Joana’s travails unfold.

Yes. This film is as weird to watch as the preceding paragraphs bode. The State can detect pregnancies and DNA traits via entrance devices like our current metal detectors. We see a considerable amount of nudity, though much of it is shown more clinically than erotically. The titillation factor is further dampened by the cast of average-looking citizens, rather than the babes and studs we associate with Rio’s beaches and club scene. There’s no explanation for how this Big Brother-esque system evolved, adding to the surreal tenor of the presentation. Co-writer/director Gabriel Mascaro tosses in a liberal dose of seemingly random bits of symbolism, ramping up the WTF factor.

Joana variably comes across as a sympathetic figure or a pain in the ass throughout the story. Disclosing further plot specifics would spoil the experience more than provide guidance on whether to give this a try. Dira Paes’ performance is exceptional with this difficult role in a production that’s more like abstract art than narrative fiction. Mascaro’s lighting and framing are also worthy of study for film aficionados. What one gets from the plot will vary widely, and perhaps be worthy of post-viewing debate.

DIVINE LOVE (in Portuguese with English subtitles) opens in theaters in select cities on Monday, Sept. 13, and debuts Tuesday, Sept. 14, on DVD and on demand through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Vudu.

RATING: 2 out of 4 stars