Paulo Coelho's Best Story

Director Daniel Augusto's bio-pic delivers the backstory of internationally popular Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo (played as an adult by Júlio Andrade). On the 25th anniversary of the publication of his breakthrough bestselling novel The Alchemist, Coehlo is determined—despite health problems—to attend a gala with his longtime wife. En route to the affair, kaleidoscopic flashbacks of his early life unfold (the resemblance to Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries may or may not be intentional). Rebellious, artistic, and sometimes unmanageable, young Coehlo (Ravel Andrade) is actually sent to a mental institution for shock therapy by his uncomprehending bourgeois parents. Later, he becomes an actor, song lyricist, and (pseudonymous) writer/editor of a paranormal phenomena magazine. At one point, military authorities pick him up and torture him, only to conclude that he's a harmless madman rather than a dissident, letting him go. Familiarity with modern Brazilian culture and Coelho's books would help to decode the many references to pop celebrities and Catholic secret societies. Although it often suffers as compelling drama, this will likely be welcomed by readers who have made Coelho the world's most-translated living author. A strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)