Walter Lima, Jr.'s The Dolphin is one of those wondrous fables that you either take to or you don't. I did. The framing device has a trio of fisherman recalling the story of Tereza (Cassia Kiss), a "boto's woman"--meaning a woman seduced by the boto, or dolphin-man. The daughter of a fisherman, Tereza has a son by the Boto, which brings bad luck on the village. First Tereza's father dies, then the fishing dries up, and finally when Tereza marries, the Boto returns to plague her and her new husband. Richly filmed, The Dolphin is a literally dark film, with many scenes taking place in the moonlit night. But it is also an unapologetically romantic film with lovers entwining on the beach under a full moon and a sky full of stars, or merely walking through the windswept sand, where palms sway and the ocean waves rhythmically pound ashore. The Boto, himself, is a fascinating comic/seductive creation, whose curious head bobbing and loping gait is a cross between running and dancing. Although The Dolphin does not make perfect sense all of the time, the underlying subtext of the film is well thought out: namely, that the dolphin steals the fisherman's livelihood, and is therefore "the enemy" and prime material for myth. An engaging soundtrack, excellent performances, and unabashed romanticism make The Dolphin a nice treat for adventurous video watchers. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)
The Dolphin
color. 95 min. In Portuguese w/English subtitles. Fox Lorber Home Video. (1987). $79.95. Not rated Library Journal
The Dolphin
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