The Man Who Copied (2003)

Fresh from his success in the art-house hit Madame Sata, Lazaro Ramos delivers a subtle and unique performance in The Man Who Copied, a sweetly quirky work that tells a story of love, art, robbery and photocopying. Andr (Ramos) is a bored copy machine operator who leaves work every night to return home and draw comic book art; there his artistic fantasies transport him to a perfect world with a beautiful wife and lots of money. He also peeps out his bedroom window into the home of Slvia (Leandra Leal), an 18-year-old clothing store salesgirl who lives with her father.

Rear Window looks back

Jorge Furtado's comedies are some of the most popular films currently in Brazil, for good reason. Some US critics of The Man Who Copied fault it for petering out, for not developing the implications of the limited options of the working class, ie, the copy "boy" who got kicked out of school. But the movie has more surprising twists in store, which without being too much of a spoiler I can only call "Rear Window" looks back. September 28, 2007

Good Movie

Lazaro Ramos is one of my favorite actors. He's been in a lot of movies and tv shows in Brasil too - the most recent one I can think of was the soap opera "Cobras & Lagartos" where he was at the center of the novelas plot. Meanwhile Pedro Cardoso is an actor that almost triggers a "laugh on site' order - especially with his outfits! He too has been in several movies but prominantly features in the sitcome "O Grande Familia". But here they are both featured and neither one of them disappoint, along with a pretty strong cast of characters like the adorable Leandra Leal and the drop-dead smokin' gorgeous Luana Piovani.

To describe the movie without giving it all away... it's about a young man (Lazaro Ramos) with a bit of a bleak reality and future who's job is to work on a copy machine. All the while, he is infatuated with a girl (Leandra Leal) that lives a few buildings down from him whom he 'spies' on whenever he gets the chance. Characters are gradually introduced in the series, like Cardoso, who was Luana's boyfriend in the movie, but the movie bursts into a full sprint the very moment Lazaro's boss buys a color printer and the element of half-hazard crime kicks in. The funniest thing is that everything stems from a sort of innocent crush that he has on the girl in the other building and how he just wants to meet her.

I really enjoyed the movie. It wasn't incredibly deep, and it wasn't overly thought-provoking - it was just a good sort of romantic/comedy/drama (sorry). I liked that it wasn't completely depressing or harsh... you see enough of that reality with Brasil should you live there. But you do see some funny/sad scenes, like the way the movie opens up. Lazaro narrates his routine, and he is at the store deciding what he can buy, and the attitudes of the shop-keepers and cashier. Brasil! The movie does build a bit slowly, admittedly, but it whisks you away at one point with the changes in events that occur.

Leanda Leal was adorable in the movie and her personality was great throughout, even surprising a bit towards the end. And Cardoso was... Cardoso, while Lazaro Ramos, of course, has a charm to him that makes viewers root for him. It's a good, fun movie which you want to see a second time after seeing it through since almost EVERYTHING in it has a meaning. Sort of like "Next Stop Wonderland". August 2, 2007

WOW surprisingly excellent little film

I didn't know what to expect from this film. I've seen "City of God" which was amazing but had no idea Brazil was consistently releasing films of that caliber. Definitely left me wanting more from Brazilian cinema! Very entertaining film with an excellent plot and rewarding ending.

Don't sleep on this one - worth checking out! March 29, 2007

Does that sound boring? If you think so, you are wrong :)

Andre (Lazaro Ramos), a young man living in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is "The man who copied". That title may seem a little strange, but the truth is that it has a lot to do with his job: Andre is a photocopy operator.

Does that sound boring? If you think so, you are wrong, because photocopy operators like Andre can fall in love with someone they haven t even talked to, come up with strange and risky ideas to earn more money and yes, even rob banks.

All in all, I can say that I really liked this excellent Brazilian film, directed by Jorge Furtado, and I can recommend it to you. If you decide to watch it, pay attention to the great little twist at the end, because it changes the meaning of the whole movie.

Belen Alcat April 9, 2006

Interesting Movie

The Man Who Copied is an interesting movie about love and crime, and what people will do for love. It has an excellent class, including Leandra Leal and my favorite Pedro Cardoso. Another quaint movie from Brazil. August 22, 2005

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