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The Hour of the Star

Play trailer Poster for The Hour of the Star Released Mar 2, 1985 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A poor Brazilian (Marcélia Cartaxo) works as a typist in the city, where she finds a boyfriend (José Dumont) and dreams of happiness.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Pauline Kael New Yorker It’s not a good idea to see The Hour of the Star with the wrong companions. A lot of the scenes don’t quite work, but the transforming power of art is very strong in this movie, a first feature by the Brazilian Suzana Amaral. Sep 13, 2023 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times Intriguing and finally frustrating. Aug 30, 2004 Full Review Hal Hinson Washington Post Hour of the Star is downbeat, but it isn't a downer. This, as much as anything, is a measure of Amaral's accomplishment. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Jun 19, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (12) audience reviews
Matheus M We easily can sympathize with Macabea, her sadness and confusion about the world. A touching story and a true massterpiece of cinema. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Audience Member An utterly convincing and unique performance by an extraordinary actress, Marcelia Cartaxo. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Uma bela e triste história! Gostei muito quando vi. Inclusive quero assitir de novo! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member slow paced but well acted enough to seem like a documentary Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I will state right at the beginning that I am a sucker for Brazilian films. I lived in Bahia and toured Brazil in 1975 for 10 months. I remember the buzz about this movie in 1985 when it premiered. I was in Dallas. But I do not recall seeing it at the Inwood theater. I am glad I saw it now. It is such a good movie. It really is a classic of Brazilian cinema. To me this movie imparts me with feelings that all humans have the same longings no matter what your status or background or mental capacity is...I don't know that Macabéa was mentally slow but that she really just never had any REAL interactions with people before her family died and she was transported to the big city of Sao Paulo. She does seem to have a gloomy emptiness but is also happy and entertained at times. Others state the wish the directors did this or that.. we have here what they present us with!!! The film is as they wanted it!! I felt a lot of empathy with Macabéa and wished she had found others who could have given her more direction empathy and support in life. However in the end all things are resolved although the movie ends very sadly. Considering that this movie was probably made on a very small budget I think it is a fantastic accomplishment. Of course as always I feel the movie movies to slowly and will be too depressing for most of the USA movie crowd. however I found this a lovely emotional moving film. four very strong stars!! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie's wonderful characters are trapped in a dully paced and blandly directed movie. Any reaches for magical realism are sorrowfully missed. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hour of the Star

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A poor Brazilian (Marcélia Cartaxo) works as a typist in the city, where she finds a boyfriend (José Dumont) and dreams of happiness.
Director
Suzana Amaral
Producer
Assunção Hernandes
Screenwriter
Clarice Lispector, Suzana Amaral, Alfredo Oroz
Production Co
Kino International Corp.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 1985, Original
Runtime
1h 36m