The film centers around a wealthy and influential businessman, Lívio (played by Wladimir), who is married to a beautiful young woman, Marta (played by Cláudia). The couple has a daughter, Ana (played by Cristina), who is around 12 years old. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Lívio's relationship with his daughter is overly intimate and controlling, while Marta struggles with feelings of inadequacy and isolation.
"Love Strange Love" was the product of a director at a crossroads. Walter Hugo Khouri was already an established name in Brazilian cinema, known for his existential and psychological dramas that often drew comparisons to European masters like Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, however, the Brazilian film industry was evolving, and Khouri adapted by infusing his trademark introspective style with the eroticism that was becoming commercially popular.
The film’s legacy is inextricably tied to the legal battle waged by Xuxa Meneghel. At the time of filming, Xuxa was an 18-year-old model and the girlfriend of legendary soccer player Pelé, who encouraged her to take the role. She plays the role of Tamara, a libertine character who has a sexual encounter with the 12-year-old Hugo. Amor Estranho Amor -Love Strange Love- -1982- English
In the flashback, we meet the 12-year-old Hugo (Marcelo Ribeiro). He is taken from Santa Catarina by his grandmother and left at the mansion's imposing wrought-iron gates to live with his mother, Anna (Vera Fischer), whom he hasn't seen in years. Unaware of her profession, Hugo is wide-eyed and innocent as he steps into a world of silk robes, heavy perfume, and whispered secrets. The mansion is a closed world where São Paulo's most powerful men—politicians, doctors, and oligarchs—come to conduct business and indulge their desires.
Amor Estranho Amor bears all of Khouri's signature trademarks: elegant camera movements, carefully composed shots, and a somber, reflective mood. Despite the potentially exploitative subject matter, Khouri handles the material with a deliberate pace and a degree of restraint. He sets the intimate drama of a boy’s sexual awakening against the grand backdrop of political turmoil, creating a unique contrast that elevates the material beyond simple titillation. The film centers around a wealthy and influential
The film featured some of the most prominent Brazilian stars of the era:
Amor Estranho Amor was a critically acclaimed film in Brazil, generating significant controversy and debate upon its release. While some critics praised the film's bold and unflinching portrayal of a dysfunctional family, others condemned it for its perceived voyeurism and sensationalism. "Love Strange Love" was the product of a
(If you’d like, I can summarize critical reviews, provide a scene-by-scene breakdown, or give a short biography of Walter Hugo Khouri.)
Young Hugo (Marcelo Ribeiro) transitions from an intimidated observer to a participant in the bordello's adult world, symbolizing how the "pure" are groomed into a corrupt political elite.
The timing is critical: 1937 marked the beginning of the dictatorship in Brazil. The bordello serves as a microcosm of this era, functioning as a site for political maneuvering where influential men trade favors for sexual access. Key Themes