Private Desert (2021)★ 7.1/10

No amount of lofty philosophy or grand reflections on identity can disguise how uneven the storytelling is. The first three-quarters that could’ve been halved drag on with sluggish pacing, while the final quarter rushes toward a dramatic climax that arrives far too late and ends just as abruptly.

The protagonist’s journey from resentment and confusion to empathy and acceptance is the film’s emotional core. Even when people have differing values, worldviews, or ways of life, society must find a way to foster understanding. That’s clearly the film’s message. Still, the ending seems incredulous. It simply doesn’t hold up logically.

What can I say? It's a controversial movie, but it shouldn't be. Love is the greatest thing in the world and we all know that. The script is one of the best of the current Brazilian cinema, and the direction was sensible enough to put it on the screen. And last but not least: Pedro Fasanaro nailed every single moment, the micro-expressions, the personality, I think I fell in love too.