 
›› Family Affair - Assunto de Família
a short film by Caru Alves de Souza.
2011 | 13 mins | Brazil.
principal players: Claudia Assunção / Eunice, Kauê Telloli / Rossi, Ney Piacentini / Borges, Thiago Franco Balieiro / Cauã, Thiago Pinheiro / Cássio and Johnnas Oliva as Pedro.
Official Synopsis: "Rossi's family are no different from anyone else's but when he tries to fit in with his older brother's group of friends, he finds the outcome more than surprising."
Dave says:-
Well that's the official synopsis, only it doesn't really say what's going on here. Then again, neither do we know for certain. For this is a short of two halves; much like the game of football and one that here finds a father and his two sons semi-glued to the screen, as São Paulo take on their rivals Palmeiras.
Only it's what happens after the match is over that proves to be the winning score, when older brother Cauã invites his friends across for a celebratory drink, along the way continuing to poke fun at his younger sibling. Yet it would seem that Rossi has more in common with one of his brother's friends, than what at first appears.
In short, this is a work that finds writer and director Caru Alves de Souza holding the gay card close to her chest, hinting at Rossi's sexual orientation, having been caught looking, teenage crush style, at one of his brother's friends. That the man himself sticks up for Rossi and later seeks him out for a quiet smoke, is but an obvious ploy to get the two alone together. Yet what follows is unexpected, an "out of the blue" scene that frankly arrives all too sudden for my liking, lacking sexual build-up and critical eye movements, even if and to the boy's credit, it's delivered with all the passion of two hot Latino studs.
So it's a mixed review here; only to which version, I hear you add? For this is a review to the uncut 12'39'' print of a short film, that has itself been shortened by close to five minutes, removing for the main part the poignant moments that revolve around Rossi's mother's health issues. Primarily viewed now as a gay short, I dare say this alternative edit for many will no doubt play better, even if certain scenes have clearly been butchered in the process. Whatever and like many a title I could mention, we do not get to see the development of this family affair, aka, getting to know your brother's best friend - literally, given the "what happens next" element has been left to your imagination, even if keen-eyed viewers will no doubt have spotted Kauê Telloli in the lead role, having previously been seen getting educated in the ways of life, courtesy of Professor Godoy.
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Gay Visibility - overt.
Nudity - none.
Overall - file under ... 3 stars.
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