Marriage and relationships are all fun and games until a baby comes in the way disrupting the apparent peace, quiet and romance a couple had for a
while. The couple from "O Casal" (played by José Wilker and Sonia Braga) are clearly in love, with their careers going through transitions and the pregnancy
from the woman appears on the surface something both wanted, though not exactly at that particular timing when almost everything's uncertain and now it's
their dilemma to make big decisions that can affect all parts involved, and even their friends.
Daniel Filho's film is a rollercoaster of emotions and a seesaw between comedy and drama that can either make you see things in a light, humored
way but also get some depressive and annoying perspectives (but never tragic, just close to it). The duo deals with several issues, from possibility of
abortion, acceptance of the baby to come, trouble relationships between themselves, or in the man's case with a lover (Betty Faria), their studies, their
work and it's a multitude of things that happen in so little time one wonders how come they don't go crazy. But almost there. That's life to some people.
It's that kind of movie you show to people who never been in a loving relationship to see if that's what they really want from life or not; and to those
who have traveled that path it works as a way to compare situations, if it's all real or there are some exageration.
I liked the film but must say it was a quite stressful picture with many up's and down's happening so fast that you don't have time to breathe and
see things clearly. Also, didn't like the unbalanced view where we stay a long time with Wilker and his drunk historian friends (the quiet guy is amazing)
and we barely see Sonia and her friends having some good discussions (except that they're all too positive in helping her with teaching on how to be a mom,
and she's so happy about it). It's like the film saying the man's dramatic (and comedic too) perspective is way more important than of the woman. On the
other hand the comedic elements were quite positive, somewhat authentic and never crazed as some American romantic comedies are. "O Casal" managed to be
down to earth in dealing with complicated relationships, fatherhood and motherhood issues and if the dream can be real or it's a nightmare scenario. Overall,
a good film more on the entertaining side and less for a thoughtful discussion. 6/10.
