Film Review: Tabu (15), (Portugal/Germany/Brazil/France 2012) (Portuguese with English Subtitles) (Director: Miguel Gomes), Wednesday 12.09.2012 20:30, The Filmhouse Screen One, Edinburgh (2nd viewing on Monday 17.09.2012 Filmhouse Screen One, Edinburgh) (3rd viewing on Sunday 11.11.2012 15:15, The Filmhouse Screen Three) 

This is a film that is presented in the 4:3 'Academy' aspect ratio of the very earliest cinema, in black and white with particularly sharp contrast, and is told in two distinct halves. The first half concentrates on two aging neighbors in modern day Lisbon, and to my mind focuses on the importance of kindness and companionship. One of the neighbors health is ailing and it is assumed she is becoming cognitively compromised. She makes a request for a male to be contacted, whom it is clear her neighbor and maid have never heard of. It is while the male is being driven to the hospital, that the driver is notified that the elderly lady has passed away. After the funeral the male and the neighbor go for coffee and the man begins to regale as to how he knew the lady.

The film then slips easily into the second half, and from 35mm to 16mm and into the setting of colonial Africa. There is no dialogue in the second half, though the man reflecting is providing narration. The tale is told simply, though is very clear in explaining the passion that the man and woman had for each other. Added to this is that she was married, so there were complications and clandestine arrangements, not just a straight forward relationship. The presentation of the narration to dialogue free footage is a creative though realistic presentation, as is how reflections from distant past tend to work.

The second half speaks of the creative and destructive nature of love. As well as, in connection with the first half, the honoring of requests and the importance of trying to not make assumptions about people, even those you feel to know quite well. It also reminds that it can be quite normal for people to have significant parts of their lives not known to others.

It has a calm economic charm in how the tale is told and visually it sizzles. The film is a masterpiece of staggering beauty and wonder. I have already found myself saying to others that I reckon in years to come, this may well be heralded as one of the all time great films.
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I went for a second viewing due to having been so impressed on first viewing. The very beginning of the film I found made more complete sense the second time around. In the second part of the film, which is narrated without dialogue to scenes representing colonial African times, I was able to focus more on the visual palate due to not having to focus as much on the subtitles. This allowed greater appreciation of the visual aspect to the film, which I had already taken to be extraordinary. It is literally without any visual comparison that I'm aware of. I would be surprised if anyone came away from watching it without feeling charmed.
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The third viewing was at a free screening, which I had managed to get quite a few folk to come along to. The films charm I find to be undiminished with this third viewing. There were still elements to do with the telling of the story that I was picking up on for the first time - subtle elements to do with what is in the frame and left unspoken. Of particular note this time was the gorgeous high-contrast cinematography, in the first half, and even more so the second. A further element of the film that is subtle, though exquisite.

After only the third viewing, I feel I am prepared to state this as being one of my all time favorite films. I'm struggling to think of a more visually stunning piece.

Rating: 10/10.
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2012: Seven Flawless Films To Date In Order Of Release:
Magic Trip (Documentary)
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Turkish) 
Goodbye First Love (French)
The Dark Knight Rises
Searching For Sugar Man (Documentary) 
Anna Karenina
Tabu (Portuguese)