From the Beginning to the End (Do Começo ao Fim) (2009) directed by Aluisio Abranches

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Two brothers develop a very close relationship as they are growing up in an idyllic and happy family. When they are young adults their relationship becomes very intimate, romantic, and sexual.

Director: Aluisio Abranches

Writer: Aluisio Abranches

Release Date: 27 November 2009 (Brazil)
26 May 2010 (Seattle International Film Festival, USA)

Genre: Drama

Plot: This controversial Brazilian drama follows the love and sexual intimacy between two men…who are half-brothers.

There are not a lot of topics involving consenting adults that can really shock these days but this searing romantic drama about two brothers who love—incestuously – may well be one of them! Set in a sun-burnished Brazil, two boys, Francisco and his younger half-brother (same mother, different fathers) Thomás, are being raised in upper class comfort in Rio by their doting mother. Five years apart, the boys are best friends and unusually close to each other so much so that their intimacy brings vocal concerns from relatives that maybe they are too close. But the parents reluctantly brush away the concerns. Fast-forward several years with Francisco and Thomás now strikingly handsome, bronzed young men and their childhood intensity has evolved into a torrid sexual relationship. But when Thomás is offered a chance to train for the Brazilian swim team in Russia for a long period of time, the proposed separation brings fears that their love is threatened. Spectacularly shot amidst the mountains, beaches and grand estates of Brazil, this intense drama does not just live on the controversial subject matter but rather is a strikingly evocative romance of two men fighting against societal conventions.

@IMDb
@Amazon: From Beginning to End
@TLA Releasing

 





















Cast (in credits order)
Rafael Cardoso ... Thomás
João Gabriel Vasconcellos ... Francisco
Gabriel Kaufmann ... Thomás
Lucas Cotrin ... Francisco
Júlia Lemmertz ... Julieta
Fábio Assunção ... Alexandre
Louise Cardoso ... Rosa
Jean Pierre Noher ... Pedro 

      
Thomas & Francisco (adults)

 
Thomas & Francisco (children)

And now a little bit of Men Candy for you, remember it's Valentine's Day!

Rafael Cardoso, alone:

























Joao Gabriel Vasconcelos, alone:

















And the two hottie together:

Comments

[lab-jazz.livejournal.com]

My Goodness!!!
I have heard about this film before and seen clips. I'm assuming that it will eventually be released in America, where I can buy it from Amazon. I really hope so anyway. It looks crash hot wonderful.

Thanks for the bear hug &hearts
I tried to send you one back but LJ won't let me :(

Lyn

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I hope it will be available at least in DVD. Both in USA than Italy I'm not sure if we will have the chance to see it in theatre. Elisa

[cassandra-gold.livejournal.com]

Okay, I want to watch this. The pretty boys alone would be enough, but the story sounds interesting too.

I hope it comes to the US soon...

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Half the movie is story, half the movie Man Candy, so all are happy ;-) Elisa

[aileenfan.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting for this movie since last year:) I wonder if it's released on DVD in region2 ??? I have some serious doubts to tell you the truth:(

Oh, and thank you for the gift:DDD I hope all is well and you are spending the Valentine's day with people you care for:)

Hugs
Caroline

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

No, not yet. It will be in theatre in France in May, so probably no longer after that. Elisa

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sin_attract/]

This seems really interesting! The youtube videos you posted have gotten me really interested...hopefully it'll be out in the US before too long Yes, please keep us updated if you can! :D

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I think it will be eartbroken if and when it will arrive in USA, so I will be not the only one to talk about it. Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

I look forward to this movie a lot :)
Happy Valentines Day.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Happy V day to you too! Elisa

[tizi17.livejournal.com]

ohmiodio... che bel san valentino... ;-) grazie!
sono riuscita a vedere pezzi di questo film, ed è veramente molto intenso..
la trama susciterà discussioni senz'altro..
ma la base del film è un libro, "the carnivorous lamb" di agustin gomez-arcos, che per se è un libro soprattutto politico, dove il fatto che i due ragazzi siano fratelli è una cosa secondaria. certo, il film parla solo di questo aspetto.
discussioni su incesto apparte - i due ragazzi sono mmmmmeravigliosi... ;-)
grazie!

[tizi17.livejournal.com]

forgot to ask... it gets to france in may? please keep us posted, i MUST have it...

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I believe to be the one to spread the word. I read in a movie article in a movie magazine that it will be released in May in France and posted a comment online. The day after the buzz was on. But yes, I read that France bought the right for the movie. Elisa

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

I am in Brazil, I am really happy I got to see this movie! It's so amazing! Sweet and sexy and simply just so natural!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Psss, between us (and some hundreds in my flist ;-)), it has an happy end, hasn't it? Please tell me so! Elisa

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

He he :) Hmm... :P

Yep, it does! It made me even happier with the film, since I kinda feared it would fall into the moralist ending, with both of them "realising" they were getting things mixed up or something...

I am really glad it didn't happen!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Good! Now it's definitely in my wish list as soon as it will be available in DVD. Thank you! Elisa

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :)

Btw, there's a community on LJ about the film: pra_sempre.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know ;-) I'm watching it, but I think that living in Europe I will probably have first hand news when the film will be out here. One of the few time that living in Italy is giving me an advantage LOL Elisa

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was actually a suggestion of pimping, since there are icons there too :P

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

More people are speaking of it the better, so maybe an american producer will consider to buy it (TLA Releasing should really consider it). Communities help maintain the buzz and I'm sure that months after the release of the movie there will be a huge fandom going on. I bet this movie will be the next Brokeback Mountain, with the added value that here the characters are happy and alive! Elisa

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

I hope so! It would be awesome to have a fandom of a Brazilian filme!!!! ^_^

[edenwinters.livejournal.com]

Oh, my. You have done such a good job reeling me in. By all means let us know when it's available in the U.S. The pictures you have posted are incredible, but I won't be able to watch the trailers until later.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

The trailers are stunning, after seeing them you will want to see the movie even more ;-) Elisa

[edenwinters.livejournal.com]

Oh, my! You are so right! Stunning! I'll be totally pissed if there isn't a HEA for these two!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

If you read the comment abov you will see that I asked to a Brazilian "spy" the same question and she gave me the right answer LOL No heartbreaking ending for these two, or at least, it will be a good heartbreak! Elisa

[lisa-thecat.livejournal.com]

I've seen the clips before and I'm completely charmed. I can't wait to see it, when it becomes available somewhere...

Thanks for the photos too!!!! Nice v-day pressie for all of us!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

This is probably one of the most awaited gay themed movie of the last years. We will be all there on the starting line when it will be available LOL Elisa

[dark0feenix.livejournal.com]

Thank you for introducing this gorgeous movie! I can't wait to see it. Hot, gorgeous, Brazilian men who are playing brothers. What more could there possibly be? :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I think little few an be as gorgeous ;-) Elisa

[veggieg.livejournal.com]

Both actors are gorgeous but together, they're so much hotter! I've watch part of the movie and somewhat disappointed. While the idea of it was intrigued, when execute to film it's lack of.. something. I want to see more of the angst they going through, knowing they're not suppose to love one another instead of just jump in right after their mother's pass away without any explanation or emotional turmoil. Their on scene's chemistry however, has made up some of its lacking.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Be aware, I think I know to what part are you referring and I think they cut a goos chunck of the movie. Like that, you are right, it lacks something. I will reserve my judgement once I will buy the movie and see the original version. Elisa

[veggieg.livejournal.com]

Good advise! I shall wait and see.

Thanks <3

[kc-risenphoenix.livejournal.com]

WOW! I would LOVE to see this!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

And with you me and many others. I hope they will release it soon in Italy AND Usa. Elisa

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I know this movie was shiny like a fashion magazine, and that the director pointed more on the prettiness of his actors than the strength of the story, especially in the second part of the movie. But I think it was for sure a daring movie, touching a subject that was not easy; is it a fault the director chose to do that without too much emphasis? I think not, probably in this way he was allowed to reach a wider target. In any case the first part of the movie is really good, and the mother's role is perfect.
I'd like to highlight an odd coincidence between the movie and the novel from which is loosely inspired, The Carnivorous Lamb by Agustín Gomez-Arcos: Richard Reitsma, a college professor, teaches a special topic course, The Body Erotic/The Body Politic: Deviant Sexuality as Political Discourse, and Gomez-Arcos's novel is one of the novel he uses as reference and the majority of his students over the years are straight, with a preponderance of females. Common
comments are "I forgot they were brothers,", or "It didn‘t bother me because it was so beautiful,", or "I didn‘t think about it that way, I just saw it as a
metaphor.". That is, I think, the same main reaction to the movie, the preponderance of the fan are females and they didn't stop so much on the fact the characters were brothers, but pointed more that the love story was beautiful.