''Drained'', ( Portuguese: ''O Cheiro do Ralo'') is a 2006 Brazilian
dark comedy
Black comedy, also known as black humor, bleak comedy, dark comedy, dark humor, gallows humor or morbid humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally ...
Heitor Dhalia
Heitor Dhalia (born 18 January 1970) is a Brazilian film director and screenwriter. He has directed seven films since 1988. His film, '' À Deriva'', competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd Cannes ...
, and stars
Selton Mello
Selton Figueiredo Mello (; born 30 December 1972) is a Brazilian actor and filmmaker. Acting since childhood on TV shows, Mello gained popularity in Brazil for his comedic performances in ''A Dog's Will'' (2000) and ''Lisbela e o Prisioneiro, L ...
. The film was produced by Geração Conteúdo, Primo Filmes & RT Features.
Plot
Lourenço is a lonely pawn shop owner whose work made him insensitive to the suffering of those who desperately seek to sell him their personal possessions. Lourenço's insensitivity causes him to deal with the world as a collection of objects to be bought. He begins to play power games with his customers and derives pleasure from it.
Lourenço narrates the movie, and throughout the plot, he reveals his growing lust for power. The literal name of the movie ("The Smell from the Drain") refers to the persistent bad odor that comes from the restroom in Lourenço's office. Lourenço's lust for power is symbolized by this very scent. He slowly comes to realize that the stench from the drain actually comes from him.
Lourenço's life changes when he becomes infatuated with a local waitress, whose physical attributes become yet another object to him, and as with any other object, he desires to possess her. In the end, destruction prevails.
Festival career
*
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
The Festival do Rio is an international film festival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populou ...
**Best Latin American Film (
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for ''Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique'') is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the wor ...
award)
**Special Jury Award
**Best Actor (
Selton Mello
Selton Figueiredo Mello (; born 30 December 1972) is a Brazilian actor and filmmaker. Acting since childhood on TV shows, Mello gained popularity in Brazil for his comedic performances in ''A Dog's Will'' (2000) and ''Lisbela e o Prisioneiro, L ...
)
*Mostra BR -
São Paulo International Film Festival
The São Paulo International Film Festival (), also known internationally as Mostra, is an annual film festival held in the city of São Paulo, Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South Ame ...
**Best Film (Bandeira Paulista Award)
**Critic Award
**Special Mention to the Film's Cast
*International Competition at the
2007 Sundance Film Festival
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18 until January 28, 2007, in Park City, Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah and Ogden, Utah. It was the 23-rd iteration of the Sundance Film Festival. The opening night film was '' Chica ...
Robert Koehler. Drained movie review. ''Variety'' Sundance Festival reviews.