Film: Adrift
Release date: 7th February 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 97 mins
Director: Heitor Dhalia
Starring: Camilla Belle, Vincent Cassel, Caua Reymond, Debora Bloch, Laura Neiva
Genre: Drama
Studio: Revolver
Format: DVD
Country: Brazil
Brazilian director Heitor Dhalia’s third full-length film, Adrift, was shown in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, immediately rendering it worthy of international credit. Set against a summer backdrop of incessant sunshine in Dhalia’s homeland of Brazil, this is a poignant coming-of-age story about 14-year-old Filipa, taking us through her journey of self-discovery amidst her parents’ clandestine acts of infidelity.
Filipa and her teenage friends are on the threshold of sexual discovery, experiencing first kisses and tiptoeing across ideas of romance and relationships. Her father Mathias is in the process of writing a book, and so the family take a vacation at their beach house in Buzios to allow him time to work on his latest creation. His wife, Clarice, cultivates an underlying alcohol problem whilst dismissing the artistic purpose of her husband’s work, and so, when a producer offers to buy the TV rights to his latest book, their differences in mentality begin to emerge. From Mathias’ creative dedication to Clarice’s logical bill-paying manner, it is clear that there is tension mounting within their marriage.
Filipa’s growing suspicions regarding the stability of her parents’ relationship are exacerbated when she discovers photos of an attractive woman in her father’s office drawer. And thus ignites Filipa’s determination to reveal the truth, resulting in her catching glimpses of her father and his American lover Angela as they pursue a hidden affair. The youngsters in Adrift discover a grown-up world of jealousy and betrayal, supplemented by a local shooting his wife for infidelity. The presence of a gun sparks fear in Filipa’s mind regarding her own troubled parents, thus introducing her to the darker aspects of adulthood.
The family’s routine breakfast gathering becomes increasingly more uncomfortable. Filipa spends the time glowering at her father, and her parents’ attempts at maintaining a normal atmosphere begin to deteriorate until eventually Mathias is absent at the table. Cracks become deeper as relationships are formed and broken, and we watch through Filipa’s eyes as her speculative questions are finally answered with unconcealed honesty…
Adrift opens with the camera tracing its gaze along the bodies of father and daughter as they float in tranquil blue sea. There is instantly a powerful sense of love between the two, which is made all the more striking by the accompanying piano soundtrack of Antonio Pinto.
Dhalia uses small finishing touches to portray the film’s 1980s setting, such as Mathias’ typewriter, his large studious spectacles, and The Ronettes’ ‘Be My Baby’ being played at a party. The film is shot under a constant golden glow of sunshine, making Brazilian skin and the summer backdrop combine in an almost surreal perfection. Dhalia’s cinematography is often visually profound, enhanced by the photography of Ricardo Della Rosa; beautifully delicate scenery and body language become essential dialogues to the plot.
Plenty of directors have attempted the tale of a teenager ascending to the role of adult, but Dhalia does it with such integrity and dexterity that it is impossible for the film to collapse into a cliché. The narrative unravels carefully; each character’s vulnerability gives them a third dimension which turns them from fiction into friend. The film develops enigmatically, placing the viewer with Filipa as we catch glimpses of unrevealed plot, and come to the same conclusions that she does - only to have things slightly pushed off balance as the entire story is unveiled, making a credible and satisfying ending which would undoubtedly have been sugar-coated if it were made in Hollywood.
Filipa’s strength of character results in her often answering back to her parents, storming off mid-conversation if something displeases her, and abusing the male attention which she receives. Her relentless youthful obstinacy is performed with a superb authenticity by Laura Neiva in her only acting role to date. While her attitude eventually brushes on being irritating, Neiva’s glaring eyes maintain the communication of her confused distress. Her female presence develops through the film, beginning with the endearing naivety of a child and blooming into the beginnings of a flirtatious young lady.
The chemistry between characters is electric, with unspoken desires depicted wonderfully between the enthusiastic adolescents, and also between Vincent Cassel as Mathias and Camilla Belle as Angela. Cassel effortlessly exudes charisma as loving father, passionate writer and adulterer, displaying his endless talents as he speaks in fluent Portuguese despite being natively French.
Adrift is not your average dysfunctional family drama. It flirts with desire without becoming notorious; it sails through a series of problems without going overboard. Dhalia directs convincing characters, and his work is embellished by the emotional luminosity of his cast. On the surface it seems as though nothing great has been achieved due to the film’s slow pace and scattered sub-plots, but Dhalia has discreetly depicted a substantial life transition in a very short space of time. NM
