The Trespasser

Gritty and inventive Brazilian drama which follows the efforts of two businessmen to eliminate a rival. The two men are Gilberato (Borges) and Ivan (Ricca) who employ the services of Anisio (Miklos), a contract killer from the San Paolo slums. What they don't envisage is the killer wanting to stay on, and bed the dead man's daughter (Ximenes), after the job has been done.

Shot on grainy, heavy bleached-out film stock, The Trespasser has a world weary look to it, which perfectly compliments the bleak subject matter. The performances are all well judged and assured, especially Miklos enchanting as the class conscious assassin. On the downside, the film ends far too quickly to satisfactorily tie up loose ends, and The Trespasser could have done with being 20 minutes longer. The political message is laid on a little thick for comfort, too, but this is, on the whole, fairly impressive stuff.