There's something so wrong about this movie...............And So wonderfully enchantingly RIGHT!

The 2009 Brazillian film "From Beginning to End" or (Do Começo ao Fim) is an interesting movie with great societal lessons and character study, but I have to say that last third nearly killed the film for me. Although, genuinely a good film, it had groundbreaking greatness in it, if only they would break from conventional film making.

So let's start at the beginning, two half-brothers grow up together and begin bonding over little childlike games. Their bond is intense and deep, some people begin to question the nature of this bond, even the mother. However, on some level, she accepts them and their bond with each other. She recognizes that love really has no real boundaries or guidelines as she herself has lived such a life. She eventually dies of old age (no drama, no murder plot, no thrilling issues, she just dies). The two brothers mourn the loss of their mother.

After her death, the two half-brothers, now in their 20's, recognizes what they truly have as love. They have a wonderfully choreographed undressing scene that slowly peels away the stigma of familial bonds and society, then give themselves to one another in sex.

After this mild "climax", the film devolves into the pedestrian gay plot line (hell, it could be any romantic plot line). One of the brother's has a chance to make the Olympics swimming team and he has to make a choice between love or his chance at fame. (Tell me if you haven't heard this before like a million times).

It's a controversial film with complicated situations and even multidimensional characters; the fathers of the boys range from dislike to tolerance throughout the movie. It is not a plain derivative gay film, because the adults at least are acting like adults, no bible thumping, nor "ex-gay" therapies

I was awe struck by the first 2/3rds of this movie and I genuinely wanted to be involved in these two brothers' development as lovers. They were perfectly matched couple.

As for the complexities of Latin American societies views to Homosexuality, I don't know if this film is indicative of how different Americans view varying sexual preferences versus Latin American countries, but there is a stark contrast if compared to other gay movies made in the US.

However, despite the new ground it breaks for m, I just can't get over the last third of the movie and how predictable it was. I mean they had everything in there, the potential feamle seductress to woo one of the lovers into her embrace (BS, if he was gay and in love with his brother, no woman could even get that close to seducing him). Another problem is the last scene, the lonely lover decide mutually that he needs his other half and races to get to him....

There was so much new ground broken in this movie, contemporary questions of love and acceptance, familial bonds, social stigmas, and even views from understanding parents.

For the 2/3rds of the movie, I give it a perfect 10 out of 10, for the last third a 4 for predictable sequences, half baked soap opera plots that aren't logical under a second viewing, and a "faux" Hollywood style of film making. I have nothing against Soap operas or Hollywood conventions for movies, some of my favorite movies follow these rules, but look, the movie had set a different tone early on to be different and out there. They had a chance to explore new frontiers, but chose to go back to the same formula again.

I mourn for the 2/3rd of this film that had created such marvelous potential and infinite delight to be bogged down by the last 1/3rd..

In total, as an average rating, 8 out of 10, worth a good watch, but just hold your suspension of belief towards the end. It's worth it for the first two thirds up to the mid climax, then it gets soap opera-esque.

( No link for this movie, I bought on Amazon Instant video about a year ago)

Next Review....I will do Shelter (One of my favorite Gay themed movies and made me fall in love with Cali culture, until quite recently when I went to California. Still a great movie that explores another side to gay life.)