'Embargo' Trailer Raises Questions, Piques Interest

The Portuguese film Embargo, about a man who invents a machine that scans feet, suffers under a gasoline embargo, then gets stuck in his car, premiered at the Austin Film Festival this past week.  Right, you're wondering how he gets stuck in the car.  Well, the trailer (and possibly the film itself) isn't very forthcoming with the details, but it really does make you want to find out.  

 Bleak Landscapes in Portuguese. Is that a bunny rabbit?

The clip makes the film look dark and clever, and early critical response likens director António Ferreira's film to a lighter, more Portuguese Coen Brothers story.  Which is quite the compliment for Ferreira and first-time feature writer Tiago Sousa; Ferreira is well-known in his home country for 2002's Forget Everything I've Told You, but has had little recognition internationally, especially in the US.  Embargo, ostensibly, hopes to change that.

From the trailer, which is conveniently subtitled in English, the film looks bleak, funny, and yes, a bit Coen-esque.  But there's a unique-ness that, having not seen much of Ferreira's previous work, inspires me to investigate what he's done before, and certainly what he will do in the future.  Additionally, the film is based on a novel by José Saramago, who's best known for writing the novel that became 2008's Blindness, a film that takes a bleak landscape to a completely new and horrifying level.  Embargo clearly has a strong story-based foundation to spring from.

The film has been out in Portugal since late September, but is likely awaiting distribution overseas pending reaction from the festival circuit.  I hope it goes well for Ferreira and company, he really seems to be taking an interesting turn with the film, and if the reception is good enough, maybe U.S. audiences will be able to see the full feature sooner rather than later. 

Pump up the gas. Watch the trailer below.

Comments

[Persona Non Grata Pictures]

Hi Cristen,

Thanks for your review on our film. We would be glad to send you Antonio's previous film. Please contact us at info@pngpictures.com