Estômago: A Gastronomic Story (2007)

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

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.

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 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.