Aquarius
A retired music critic wages an intimate battle to preserve her Recife apartment, defending memory and autonomy against relentless redevelopment.
Overview
A fierce battle for home and heritage unfolds as a woman stands her ground against corporate greed.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- contemplative
- sardonic
- intimate
- thoughtful movie night
- arthouse cinema evening
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a richly observed, politically incisive character study elevated by Sônia Braga's commanding performance and Kleber Mendonça Filho's precise direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Clara's attachment to the Aquarius is rooted in its memories, objects, music, and continuity rather than merely its real-estate value.
Clara refuses to sell while a development company pressures her to vacate the last occupied apartment in the building.
The film follows Clara's domestic habits, relationships, music, and recollections as the property conflict intensifies.
The confrontation with developers remains controlled and intimate while expressing anger about class power, corruption, and Brazilian social inequality.
Films like Aquarius, and why
Neighboring Sounds
shared themes of gentrification, threatened home, social inequality, and simmering resistance in contemporary Brazilian urban settings
The Second Mother
shared intimate social realism, class conflict, architectural space, and politically charged observation
Gloria
shared portrait of an older woman defending personal autonomy against social and economic pressure
Leviathan
shared themes of property, memory, class power, and resistance through a controlled, contemplative drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Release Date
- 2016-09-01
- Runtime
- 147 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (523)
Cast
- Sonia Braga
- Maeve Jinkings
- Irandhir Santos
- Humberto Carrão
- Zoraide Coleto
- Carla Ribas
- Fernando Teixeira
- Buda Lira
- Paula De Renor
- Bárbara Colen
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Aquarius about?
- A retired music critic wages an intimate battle to preserve her Recife apartment, defending memory and autonomy against relentless redevelopment.
- What is Aquarius like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Aquarius as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Aquarius violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Aquarius as mild.
- What did critics think of Aquarius?
- Critics broadly acclaimed the film as a richly observed, politically incisive character study elevated by Sônia Braga's commanding performance and Kleber Mendonça Filho's precise direction.
- Which films are like Aquarius?
- Films with a similar feel include Neighboring Sounds, The Second Mother, Gloria, and Leviathan.
- How long is Aquarius?
- Aquarius runs 147 minutes.
- Where can I watch Aquarius?
- In United States, Aquarius is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
