WHERE THE SUN BEATS DOWN
Portugal, 1989, 88 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Pedro Figuieredo, Manuel Lobao, Laura Morante.
Directed by Joaquim Pinto.
Where the Sun Beats Down is a Portuguese film about a closed farm community, interrelationships, suggestions of incest, homosexuality. However, the treatment of the themes is implicit and more subtle than an obvious exploitive treatment.
The film creates the atmosphere of the farm and the town, the young student returning from the city for the summer holidays, his friendship with the farmhand, the tensions in the relationship and the effect on each. The film focuses also on the young man's sister, her marriage to an older man and the death of her child, her infatuation with the older man's son, her infatuation with her brother.
The film creates its atmosphere, draws its characters - and leaves the suggestions for the audience to work on. The film is attractively photographed in the Portuguese countryside. The film was written, photographed and directed by Joaquim Pinto.
1.Interesting film, portrait of a community and family? Relationship themes, tensions?
2.The beauty of the Portuguese countryside, the farm? The contrast with the homes? The town, the disco? Musical score?
3.The title, the focus on the countryside? The tension and the heat of the summer?
4.Nuno as the central character, returning home, his relationship with his sister, the voice-over and his memories of his childhood, his closeness to his sister, her leaving and getting married? Being picked up by Artur, the meeting with Laura? The meeting with Francisco? At home on the farm, the tour with Alberto, his falling, the wound? The friendship with Alberto, talking with him, sharing his company? The effect on him - whether he realised it or not? At the disco, in the company of Alberto, the response of the girls? His not coming home? Laura's antipathy? Suspicions? Talk around the town? The schoolteacher and her husband? Their daughter and the party, Nuno not going? The discussions with Alberto, his tensions? His being bashed, Nuno looking after him? His sister's suspicions - unfounded? His being with his sister in the room and Artur seeing them? His suspicions unfounded? Nuno going to seek Alberto? The background of his plan for the holiday, the letter from Alberto and his return to the farm instead of going on the trip? The playing of sport? The swim, the shower? Suggestions of homo-eroticism? Nuno and his questioning his own self-image, studies in future, sexuality? Going off with Ze at the end?
5.Laura, her relationship with her brother, the marriage, leaving home, the death of the child? The attraction towards Francisco, her jealousy? Her sending letters, infatuation? Hard work, the accounts? Her deceiving her husband? Her unhappiness on the farm? The relationship with Nuno, suspicions of him? The final scene together and Artur seeing her?
6.Artur, his marrying Laura, the death of the child? His sensitivity towards her? Work on the farm, respect in the town? Love for his son? Paying the bills, the tractor? His suspicions of Laura?
7.Alberto, riding the bike, his work on the farm, his parents in Switzerland? Isolated and taciturn? Friendship with Ze? Reading? Taking Nuno on the tour, tending his wound? The friendship, the tension? Keeping him company, their discussions? His moodiness, at the disco? His being bashed? Tended by Nuno? The confrontation with Laura, his Leftist ideas, not delivering the letter and getting Nuno to burn it? Laura slapping him? His wanting to go off? Nuno persuading him to stay? Final departure?
8.Ze, his commentary? Working on the farm? Friendship with Alberto? The final words to Nuno? A good friend?
9.Francisco, relationship with his father, the pursuit by Laura, his attraction towards Graca? At her birthday party, Laura's visiting him and her jealousy?
10.The teacher, her idea of national identity, prejudice? Running down the younger generation? Her husband and his support? Graca, at the disco? Preparing her birthday party? The guests? Her attraction towards Francisco?
11.The background of the town, the bars and Alberto's drinking, the disco, the men and women at the discos, flirting? Gossip about Nuno and Alberto?
12.Themes of relationships, family, tensions, memories of parents, deaths of children, suggestions of incestuous love, homosexuality? The sensitivity with which the themes were treated?
