Carnaval
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Party-centered Brazilian romcom has language, drinking.

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Carnaval
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What's the Story?
When mid-level Instagram influencer Nina (Giovana Cordeiro) catches her boyfriend (Lipy Adler) cheating on her in a video that goes viral, she plays up the rejection to get a free trip to Salvador de Bahia for the annual CARNAVAL festivities. Nina and her three best friends -- boy-crazy Michelle (Gessica Kayane), quiet Mayra (Bruna Inocencio), and nerdy Vivi (Samya Pascotto) -- head to the beautiful coastal city to party and maybe find love in the process. They're met at the airport by handsome tour guides Salvador (Jean Pedro) and Samir (Rafael Medrado), and are quickly scooped up into the privileged world of Freddy Nunes (Micael), the charismatic musician who paid for a handful of influencers to join his headline act at Carnival. Obsessed with hitting a million followers on Insta, Nina will start putting her new crush Freddy and his world, including more successful influencer Luana (Flavia Pavanelli), above her friendships, risking what's most important to her in the process.
Is It Any Good?
This frothy film about the #lifelessons an Instagram influencer learns during Carnival in Brazil is as superficial as it sounds, but its postcard-perfect setting and gorgeous cast are easy to watch. Scenes from the massive, pulsating street parties of Brazil's Carnaval are captivating, and viewers get a tour of some of the locations, people, and traditions of the gorgeous coastal city of Salvador de Bahia when the women are invited to explore tour guide "Salvador's Salvador." The sexy setting and cast offset a predictable story arc. Of course Nina will risk losing what's truly important to her in her single-minded pursuit of Insta followers. Obviously she needs to put down her phone and learn to enjoy what's "real." Curiously, two other recent Brazilian films take on similar themes -- Love.com and Airplane Mode.
The actors give it their best effort, especially charismatic lead Cordeiro, but they're straddled with surprisingly one-dimensional characters. The women are drawn in broad strokes -- the social one, the promiscuous one, the quiet one, and the nerdy one (whose actions are often accompanied by her own synthesizer riff to underscore she's, yep, the nerdy one). Their biggest concerns during this film are having the right bracelet and the right eyeshadow for the right parties. The men are mostly there as topless eye candy. A late twist on Freddy's character offers some welcome depth, but it comes a little late. Still, if you take this film at face value, meaning you enjoy watching beautiful people partying in gorgeous settings, getting gussied up in glittery costumes, and making out with each other, then go ahead and click on Carnaval.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the history and tradition behind Brazil's Carnaval celebrations. Where could you find more information?
Why are Nina's friends upset with her about her obsession with her Instagram followers? Why is it important to have limits on use of social media?
How is alcohol use portrayed in this film? How was drinking presented here? Were there consequences for this behavior? Why do consequences matter?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 2, 2021
- Cast: Giovana Cordeiro, Gessika Kayane, Jean Pedro
- Director: Leandro Neri
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship, Holidays
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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