Drained Explained

Drained
Director:Heitor Dhalia
Producer:Heitor Dhalia
Joana Mariani
Marcelo Doria
Matias Mariani
Rodrigo Teixeira
Starring:Selton Mello
Paula Braun
Lourenço Mutarelli
Sílvia Lourenço
Lorena Lobato
Alice Braga
Runtime:112 minutes
Country:Brazil
Language:Portuguese

Drained, (Portuguese: O Cheiro do Ralo) is a 2006 Brazilian dark comedy film based on a novel by Lourenço Mutarelli. It was directed by Heitor Dhalia, and stars Selton Mello. The film was produced by Geração Conteúdo, Primo Filmes & RT Features.

Plot

Lourenço is a lonely pawn shop owner whose work made him insensitive to the suffering of those who desperately seek to sell him their personal possessions. Lourenço's insensitivity causes him to deal with the world as a collection of objects to be bought. He begins to play power games with his customers and derives pleasure from it.

Lourenço narrates the movie, and throughout the plot, he reveals his growing lust for power. The literal name of the movie ("The Smell from the Drain") refers to the persistent bad odor that comes from the restroom in Lourenço's office. Lourenço's lust for power is symbolized by this very scent. He slowly comes to realize that the stench from the drain actually comes from him.

Lourenço's life changes when he becomes infatuated with a local waitress, whose physical attributes become yet another object to him, and as with any other object, he desires to possess her. In the end, destruction prevails.

Festival career

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIPRESCI - Rio de Janeiro. www.fipresci.org. 2017-04-08.
  2. https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=review&id=2471&reviewid=VE1117932477&cs=1