Journey To The End Of The Night

Thriller

Brazil

English language

Reel DVD

R4 DVD

There seems to be a trend developing to take crime films out of their traditional U.S. homeland and locate them in some of the grittier parts of the world. This film is set in Sao Paulo in Brazil and has a look of destitution and criminality that suits the story. From the sleazy streets and grubby, worn buildings to the groups of prostitutes gathered on the streets it has a look that is a perfect set for the film.

Expatriate American Sinatra owns a nightclub and brothel in a backstreet. A client has died on the premises while in the middle of having it off with a transvestite. He has a suitcase of heroin. Sinatra sees this as an opportunity to make a large amount of money and get out of the business and out of Brazil. He dreams of going back to the States with his young (second) wife Angie and her son.

His older son Paul, a violent drug-addicted young thug, will inherit the nightclub. Paul however has other ideas. He wants to doublecross his father and keep all the drug money himself. He also has designs on Angie.

There is a problem. The man who died was carrying the drugs to a Nigerian group who will only deal with people of their own race who speak their dialect, Yoruba. It looks like the deal will fall through but Sinatra finds that the club’s washer-upper, Wemba, is Nigerian and speaks Yoruba. With the promise of a large payment on his return with the money inexperienced Wemba becomes the drug “mule”.

He drives to the harbour of Santos and with some difficulty completes the deal with the Nigerians, but is mugged on his way back to the car. When he wakes up the muggers have been scared off, fortunately leaving the backpack of money. Wemba continues his trip home but with his mobile phone stolen he is unable to contact Sinatra and tell him of the delay.

Convinced that Wemba has betrayed them, Paul makes his move. He can at least get the club if his father dies. The misunderstanding will be fatal for many people.

This is a pretty hopeless film, in the sense that there seems no hope for any of the players. They are just sinking further into the depths of criminality and you are surprised when some come out alive. You may have some sympathy for Wemba caught in the middle, but in the end he, like the others, is just trying to make some easy money to improve his life by carrying drugs. Even Sinatra’s wife Angie was contemplating doublecrossing him and leaving him for Paul.

There are some rough and unlikely spots in the film but for writer / director Eric Eason’s first full feature film it is a good, gripping production. I thought the American actors transplanted to the film might not work but Mos Def as the naïve Wemba is first rate. Brendan Fraser is just short of going over the top as the vicious Paul, but he carries the part well. Scott Glenn as the weary Sinatra who just wants a quiet retirement is perfect. He plays his part with just enough toughness to make his survival in Sao Paulo credible.

It is not a pleasant film but it holds the interest all the way through.

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