Hmmm. That's about the best thing I can say about The Tsugua Diaries. Hmmm. Showing a series of days in reverse chronological order (hence the title, see how August is spelled backwards in the title, get it?), this is a fairly weak work of meta-fiction that blends lines between reality and fiction in a surprisingly uninteresting way. The fact that it is set during the 2020 pandemic is the only interesting thing about it, providing an interesting time capsule and a look at how everybody, but especially creative artists, started to think about interactions, keeping themselves safe, and being able to continue their work.
The main characters onscreen are Crista, Carloto, and João, played respectively by Crista Alfaiate, Carloto Cotta, and João Nunes Monteiro, which I think tells you everything you need to know. They're part of a group of people trying to make a movie during a situation that has taken a turn for the strange. Lockdown, new rules about masking and distancing, and general concerns make things extra tense for people, as is crystallised in a scene at about the halfway point showing someone being berated for taking himself away for some time at the beach.
Co-directed by Maureen Fazendeiro and Miguel Gomes, who also apparently co-wrote the thing with Mariana Ricardo, and all three also appear in front of the camera (of course), this is a loose and rambling examination of an unsettling reality. It's worth remembering two main things though. First of all, Hitchcock once said that drama is simply life with "the dull bits cut out", which doesn't happen here, so you have a slice of life, dullness and all. Second, lockdown was, for many people, even more dull than usual. It's when people started making lots of home-made bread, and trying out other recipes in their kitchens. Many of us found shows to binge-watch, some started to go a bit stir crazy, and news reports showed the worst of humanity when people would race against one another to stock up on rice, pasta, and huge multipacks of toilet rolls. Some people loved it, I still wish every establishment had codes for table ordering to save me from extra social interactions, but many found it intolerably dull, and not great for their mental health. So . . . here's a film allowing you to remember those days. It's not exactly the nostalgia we crave a la Stand By Me.
Some may appreciate that the film-makers still managed to get something made during very difficult times. Some may appreciate the honesty of one or two key moments. I didn't appreciate any of it. This felt a bit too self-indulgent, and also a bit too cavalier about the central subject matter (which, lest we forget, is still affecting many to this day, it just isn't deemed newsworthy right now). I didn't care about anyone onscreen, I wasn't impressed by the editing choices, and it was taking me back to a time that I would much rather see used for educational purposes than art or entertainment. It's 102 minutes, but feels longer, and I am just glad that I hope to never have to sit through it again. In summation, I detah it.
2/10
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I just assumed "Tsugua" was some foreign work but I guess this makes more sense.
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