This is not a feature-length film, but a couple of independent medium-length movies. Only the second is "Ibrahim do Subúrbio", starred by José Lewgoy and directed by Cecil Thiré. Although it is the most famous and acclaimed, I liked more the former: "Roy, the professional laugher", with Paulo Hesse in the leading role and the direction of Astolfo Araújo. The two stories are not related to each other, but both are tragicomedies about the hard suburban lives far from the glamour of the post card Rio de Janeiro. Legwoy's character is quite interesting, pretending to be an aristocrat in an escapist strategy to bear his poor charmless life. The former story, however, is more balanced and deeper. Roy has no job opportunities, no success as a clown-dressed GIG worker, and sees his household sinking in precariousness. When he finally is employed, his task is to laugh for comedy TV shows. Does he have reasons to laugh?
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