Review of O Grande Momento

In the periphery of São Paulo, in a neighborhood of Italian immigrants and on the day of his wedding with Angela (Myriam Pérsia), the groom worker Zeca (Gianfrancesco Guarnieri) is trying to raise money for the wedding party. He needs to pay the tailor to get his suit; the photographer and the florist to have the wedding pictures; to buy the beverage for the party; he needs some money for the honeymoon. He does not tell the financial problem to his fiancée, and he spends his savings, sells his precious bicycle, and borrows money, trying to resolve the situation. The stressful day has a beautiful conclusion.

"O Grande Momento" is a delightful dramatic comedy influenced by the Italian Neo-Realism. The wonderful cinematography is full of details with memorable scenes, like for example, the sequence when Zeca rides his bicycle for the last time. The performances are wonderful, and this theme apparently was used by Mario Monicelli in his "Renzo & Luciana" segment in "Boccaccio '70". In times when Mira Nair's "Monsoon Wedding", or Joel Zwick's "My Big Fat Wedding", or Vanessa Parise's "Kiss the Bride" are successful and popular, it is refreshing and good to see this different approach of a troubled wedding day in the Brazilian lower class of the 50's . My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "O Grande Momento" ("The Great Moment")