Belarmino

Fernando Lopes’ BELARMINO is not really a documentary about boxing, but a documentary about the life of a boxer, Belarmino Fragoso (1931–1982), at the end of his short career, and a very lively, frank, surprising portrait of the life of a common man in Lisbon during the 60’s. A major contribution for the astounding art quality of the film is the omnipresence of augusto Cabrita, probably the best portuguese cameraman/photographer from the 50’ to the 70’s. With Cabrita’s sensibility and technique, combined with Lopes’ imagination and accuracy, we get fabulous frames, that most certainly have influenced many other directors. Watch closely the opening credits, as well as the fantastic sequence at the jazzclub and the fabulous ending shots with Belarmino washing his face at Lisbon downtown, dived in humidity and smooth rain.