O Senador (Portuguese) [The Senator]

This Brazilian murder-mystery thriller offers an engaging plot, and to some degree, the filmmakers manage to honor its potential. However, the production quality has a distinctly independent feel, and some of the performances fall short of expectations. While it is commendable to explore diverse stories surrounding gay themes, without proper attention to execution, these films will struggle to leave a lasting impression.

The story begins with Victor bringing Renan to a remote cabin in the mountains, where they soon learn about the murder of Senator Arthur. It is revealed that Victor was the last person to see him alive. The police quickly arrive, and both men are taken in for questioning. Through a series of flashbacks, the narrative unfolds. Senator Arthur leads a double life, portraying himself as a happily married man, while secretly engaging in an affair with Renan, a young boy whom he supports lavishly, even providing him with an apartment. Renan meets Victor, a journalist, through a mutual acquaintance, and Victor is immediately attracted to him. Meanwhile, Victor grows increasingly frustrated with Arthur’s stance on homosexuality and becomes determined to expose him. Thanks to a friend who works as a gay sex worker, Victor learns that Arthur may be interested in men, but he needs solid proof. They attempt to set up a sting operation, which ultimately reveals that Renan is, in fact, a “kept” lover of Arthur. Victor, deeply infatuated with Renan, threatens Arthur with the release of a compromising video unless he frees the young man, which Arthur does. The true identity of the murderer and the motive behind the crime come as an unexpected twist, one that I certainly did not foresee.

While the film presents a solid gay mystery thriller with a decent narrative, the direction feels somewhat basic and underdeveloped. The actor portraying the scheming senator delivers a strong performance, as does Renan, the innocent yet affectionate boy toy who appears to care for the senator and desires more from life. Unfortunately, the performances of Victor and his manipulative boss were less convincing. Both actors seemed to overplay their roles, with Victor in particular coming across as unnatural. He failed to effectively portray the role of a compassionate and honorable journalist who has fallen deeply for a young man. To appeal to certain segments of the audience, the film includes two explicit sex scenes, likely intended to entice and titillate. The screenplay could have benefited from further refinement to enhance the suspense and intrigue of the thriller aspect. Additionally, the production budget appears to have been minimal, as evidenced by the laughable portrayal of the newsroom office. Despite these shortcomings, the direction and writing are competent, and the multiple flashbacks are well-managed, allowing viewers to easily follow the unfolding events. Overall, the film presents a decent thriller-romance, one that does not overly strain itself but remains engaging enough not to be boring. Viewers should suspend logic and allow the story to unfold naturally. Fortunately, at just 90 minutes, the film moves along quickly.