Kiss Me (2004) User Reviews

Marilyn Monroe of Tavira

[valadas · 6/10 · 19 September 2007]

This movie tells the story of a provincial girl in the Portugal of the fifties and sixties of last century during Salazar's dictatorship. Her course begins with a disastrous marriage with a violent husband whom she finishes by deserting to go to the small town of Tavira to stay with an aunt who is despised by local people for her uninhibited and open minded behaviour so opposed to the moral values of those times. There begins her gradual change from a shy provincial girl into a replica of Marilyn Monroe who has become her idol. She tries to imitate her idol in everything including physical aspect, dressing and hair style, turning men's heads around in that small town. She oscillates between 3 men: a middle-aged tailor who began to be her boss when she arrived there, a macho man of Latin lover kind who makes his living by smuggling and other obscure businesses and an a anti-fascist intellectual who has lots of troubles with the fascist political police. That course of hers is not linear and now and then it becomes troubled by some dramatic episodes. This is an honest drama movie though not particularly deep in terms of psychological analysis of characters. But they live before our eyes as genuine and authentic. The players who do the main parts perform them very well.

Recalling Italian magic, recalling emotion, recalling cinema

[RResende · 9/10 · 20 November 2005]

A very pleasant surprise. I was really not expecting such a high standard for cinema as the onw i found in this film. One of the good light films i've seen recently, and a great joy that this one is Portuguese. Apparently this was one made to promote (and be promoted) by Portuguese top model Marisa Cruz (a popular person in the Portuguese VIP's). And in fact it was. But it was made with a great sense of direction by an important name of Portuguese cinema Antonio Cunha Telles, (whom, unfortunately has a very short direction story, things of Portuguese cinema industry...). Great camera work, very well shot scenes, taking care of image composition, scene motion and a very very good photography. Adding to this a fabulous sound track and an acting scaled between very good (nicolau breyner standing here) ad the acceptable (practicaly every other actors). This is a very Italian movie, it clearly recalls Tornatore's stories, centered in small town context, 30-40 years ago, and playing with beautiful pitoresce scenarios (is this one the very south Portuguese coast town of Tavira, Algarve) and creating an interesting light story with people's mentalities and political context. It won't change cinema, but this is surely a path that Portuguese cinema should seek more, for its sake, for its development, for its popularity and following this one, for its quality. 8/10, for being (i hope) the guide to other initiatives.

An Unlike Portuguese Film

[digtorres · 10/10 · 16 May 2005]

Kiss Me is an unlike Portuguese film. It's the opposite of the other Portuguese films!

It contains a well definite structure!

Great actors!

Wonderful soundtrack and a marvelous argument. The story is about Laura, a modern woman that has Marilyn Monroe has her reference.

Marisa Cruz shines from everywhere and Nicolau Breyner is the best actor has this film can approve.

I think that the Portuguese cinema has a lot of things to learn but we can see how the Portuguese movies are finally growing up...

We hope that this continue and our country can finally be one of the bests.