The 1983 World Cup theft is the kind of larger-than-life true story that would make a great film in the hands of any director – but Caito Ortiz manages to take things to another level in Jules and Dolores, crafting a slick, ridiculous heist comedy that dives headfirst into ‘80s Rio, coming out the other side as an audiovisual delight.

This film is bursting at the seams with colour and style, and Ortiz knows just when to take a breather and let you soak it all in. Supposedly every scene under two minutes is a long take, and Jules and Dolores certainly boasts some fantastic sequences that revel in the glamour and grit of the setting while getting the most out of a talented cast buzzing with energy.

Elsewhere, the score keeps the mood light and the movie chugging forward – not that the script needs any help. After making an impression with the heist itself, Jules and Dolores cuts back to the setup, and then forward to the hilarious and unexpected consequences.

Paulo Tiefenthaler is a delight as flamboyant rogue Peralta, strutting and dancing through the film like a peacock with the enthusiasm of a labrador. Taís Araújo’s Dolores oozes charm and glamour, and comes very close to stealing the film out from under Peralta – there’s a reason she gets her name in the title. All of the cast are clearly having a blast letting loose in the ‘80s, and even the smallest roles are played with barnstorming enthusiasm.

As with many true stories, the end is somewhat anticlimactic. Luckily, the fictional character of Dolores offers Ortiz the opportunity to cap off the story with a bang. Steeped in love for both Brazil and the Beautiful Game, Jules and Dolores is sure to become a classic.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Paulo Tiefenthaler, Taís Araújo, Danilo Grangheia

DIRECTOR: Caito Ortiz

WRITERS: Caito Ortiz, Lusa Silvestre

SYNOPSIS: Rio de Janeiro, 1983. in order to pay off his gambling debts and to please the love of his life, Peralta and his happy-go-lucky buddy Borracha decide to commit a striking heist.