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Carlinhos & Carlão (Portuguese) [Macho Man]

This was a simple film addressing the issues of homophobia that is still prevalent in many parts of the society but the film takes a very comical take on it. Some folks may find it demeaning or putting gay community down, but if we cannot take a joke on ourselves, then we have a problem as a society. So, I would say that to briefly enjoy this film, do not look for much logic, just sit back and relax and try and smile and laugh for few minutes.

Carlão is a prejudiced man who works in a car dealership. Since he was a kid, he was engrained in his Brian by his father who being a 'fairy' is not what a man should be. So when he is with friends he is always making homophobia slurs and jokes around. In fact when the new manager at car dealership show up, they all do not take him seriously as well. He is also part of the football team and together they frequent a bar where a fem gay man work and they all make fun of him.  Carlão always boasts of being the greatest soccer and mechanics savvy, all amidst macho and homophobic jokes. One day when he goes for shopping for a closet and makes a joke at the owner, he comes back home to see a magic closet. Carlão find himself becoming a gay alter ego every night and he does not know what to do. A couple of nights he tries to hide, but then he goes to the same bar and befriends the gay barman working there and the girl. He signs up on tinder also. During the day he is confused as to what and why it is happening to him. When the dealership runs a festival overnight, his truth comes out and everyone starts making fun of him for being gay. All this while Carlão himself is unsure. His attitude starts to change and slowly he gets a lesson on how gay men historically have to deal with prejudices throughout everyday life. Eventually when the manager of dealership is attacked by a fellow football team member, finally things Strat to fall in place and Carlão realizes that he has probably always been gay, but has been 'in closet' and then he is ready to celebrate life.

As I mentioned above, this film is not to be taken seriously. The humor of it all, although stereotypical, somehow works because of the charming acting done by its lead in a dual role of a macho man and a closet queen. The couple of song/dance numbers were also cool. I managed to have fun and it was interesting to see how they approached homophobia from different personal and social levels in a small community in Brazil.The film raises some important issues for example, when homophobia slurs are thrown at Carlão or ice cream is thrown at him and the gay men near him, whom he used to make fun him, come in support of him and tell him he needs to be string. A subtle message but it works in pieces. What I am not happy about is the ending. When the curse is lifted, he come out gay and enjoys life. According to me, what would have worked better is had he continued being straight, but his perspective towards gay community changed and that he respects them equally and would also change the perspectives of his family, friends and people around him. Overall a one time decent watch and a film not meant to be taken seriously. Sometimes, it's ok to just have a little fun. (5.5/10)

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