As a 12-year-old boy, Hugo (played by Marcelo Ribeiro) is sent by his grandmother to live with his mother, Anna (Vera Fischer). Anna lives in a luxurious, high-class brothel owned by her lover, Benício, an influential politician.
Upon its release, "Amor Estranho Amor" received critical acclaim for its bold and unconventional storytelling. The film's exploration of taboo subjects, such as incest and social class, sparked controversy and debate in Brazil and beyond. Critics praised the film's direction, cinematography, and performances, noting its contribution to the Brazilian cinema's exploration of complex social issues.
In a 2020 interview with the show Fantástico , Xuxa stated, "Who hasn’t seen the film, please, watch it. Because this film speaks about a very current thing, which is child exploitation, and that is the reality for many people". She continued to defend herself in subsequent interviews, lamenting the "fake news" and accusations of pedophilia that have haunted her for decades. She expressed regret over her decision to hide the film, saying, "They did the worst thing, which was to pay to keep the film hidden… If they had shown that 'crappy' film back then for everyone to see, none of this would have happened, because they would see there’s nothing there". Amor Estranho Amor -Love Strange Love- -1982- English
Amor Estranho Amor has never had a wide, official release with English subtitles. For years, it circulated as poor-quality VHS rips on underground torrent sites and cult film forums, often under the title Love Strange Love . The print quality was abysmal, adding to the film’s dreamlike, degraded aura.
No discussion of Amor Estranho Amor in English can avoid the central controversy: Xuxa Meneghel’s role. At the time of filming, Xuxa was 19 years old, not a child. She had already begun her career as a model and was on the cusp of becoming “Queen of the Shorties,” the beloved host of a children’s television show that would make her a Latin American icon worth hundreds of millions of dollars. As a 12-year-old boy, Hugo (played by Marcelo
Despite its initial success, Love Strange Love disappeared from public view for nearly 30 years. This suppression was not the result of government censorship but of a .
Amor Estranho Amor remains banned in several countries (including South Korea and, until 2015, Norway). It is the only Brazilian film to be discussed both in academic journals on dictatorship studies and on bottom-shelf video nasty lists. Vera Fischer has called it “the role that haunted my career for 30 years.” Whether you see it as art or exploitation, one thing is certain: there has never been another film quite like it. The film's exploration of taboo subjects, such as
The framing device of the adult Hugo lends the film a melancholic, dreamlike quality. The cinematography by Hélio Silva uses warm, soft lighting and deep shadows to mimic the hazy, sometimes distorted nature of childhood memory. Finding and Watching the Film in English