Title: Música
MPA Rating: PG-13
Director: Rudy Mancuso
Starring: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins
What It Is: The production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body. Rudy (Mancuso) is a young man dealing with synesthesia. He can see music all around him. Every day objects like a bouncing ball and a tapped toe turn into music. When his long time girlfriend suddenly dumps him he doesn’t really know what’s next. That is until he gets hit with reality…and a fish.
What We Think: I love the entire presentation of this film. Sure the narrative is nothing new but writer/director and star Rudy Mancuso puts it all in this refreshing package that’s hard to say no to. Camila Mendes continues to make some really fun and interesting stuff. It’s the first time she’s really flexed her heritage and it was nice to see. Mancuso is so damned talented and he really does everything well. He’s phenomenal in the lead role. His musical skills are great and his directing is fresh and fun and exactly what this project needed. Casting his real life mom was a stroke of genius and that relationship felt easy and real.
Our Grade: A-, Amazon (who own Prime Video) might actually be the devil but they are taking some HUGE risks on the film they are bringing to light. Like think about what this film is. This is the sort of thing Fox Searchlight and NEON would buy. If you want something wholly original and fun and just a bit romantic (in multiple ways) then this is the film for you. I also learned a thing or two about Brazilian culture! Which in and of itself is a total win, when you can learn something.