By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Beto Brant
Starring: Felipe Ehrenberg | Lilian Taublib | Marco Ricca
Original language title: Crime Delicado
Country: brazil
Year: 2005
Running time: 87
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478525/combined
Bruce says: “An effete intellectual theatre critic finds that his written words are powerful enough to seduce women. The smart
set – those in Brazilian artistic circles – all know who he is, an unusual position for a writer. One night when Antonio (Felipe Ehrenberg) is in a bistro Inês (Maria Manoella) asks him to join him at her table. Inês calls herself a model and indeed she is an artist’s model although that is not what first comes to mind when one hears the word. They flirt, she suggests they leave. When she stands and grabs her crutches it is the first Antonio is aware Inês is disabled. They go back to her place. She is quite drunk; nonetheless, they end up in bed.
“Antonio has other encounters with women but they do not satisfy him. A month or so later he appears at Inês’ front door in the
middle of the night. He confesses his love. At that point Inês removes her prosthetic device to reveal that she only has one leg. She climbs into bed and Antonio forces himself upon her saying he wants to save her because she is the victim of bad art. As bizarre and humorous as this might seem the scene itself is not at all funny. The next time the two see each other is in court for his rape trial.
“Director Beto Brant explained to the audience that the film is part narrative and part documentary. Certainly the viewer was in the dark on that account. A long session between artist and model reveals the artist’s technique of climbing in bed nude with Inês who is also nude. He paints the two of them while their bodies are entwined. In reality the paintings we see on the walls in the film were executed that way. Since the film was made the artist and actress are working together as a team. Life finds many ways to imitate art.
“As fascinating as parts of the film may be, the characters are self absorbed and fairly boring. At the end, the artist becomes a talking head and begins discussing life in Mexico after the big earthquake, an event that has nothing to do with the rest of the film. DELICATE CRIME is a bit of a boring mess by the time the credits come around to rescue the viewer. 2 cats”