This movie is worth it just for the camera work. There are so many scenes that just grab your emotions by the throat and jerk them around with how strong the image is. The camera captures trivial moments with such detail and delightful symphony that these details become overwhelming to the enchanted viewer.The story is not really amazing or surprising, but the movie does a great job of making that irrelevant. It's a character movie that allows you to see how food moves a main character in its relations with the world. This main character, albeit simple, never ceases to surprise us with the quirky way he sees the world. Add a little bit of food magic, and you've got this movie wrapped up.A simple thing, yet a joy to watch.

No matter what one might think... a classic is not a classic by luck. And as time goes by we see fewer and fewer good results of good cinema. Both good surprises of 2008 were In Bruges and Estomago.Estomago is a tour-De-force by Joao Miguel; however, when was the last time you saw a sex scene with such "good taste" that reveals the whole spectrum of a film? That is impossible to deny, and the film delivers tragedy of the commons in a sort of polite way, just like school books and some teachers do, except, in Estomago, we must accept that whoever starved for some kind of food for a particular period, will say, "yeah, now I'm full", or "revenge is best served grilled".The best thing about Estomago is how it portraits the process of how "alecrim" got his nickname, and this "progress" also is very well connected with prostitution of all beings, so therefore, whenever one learns the weight of a kiss, or who one might choose to kiss, and why one does it, then this happy "one" will be able to play As Time Goes By and say a kiss will always be a kiss, because it can mess with your mind, your stomach... your whole life!

I went to see a movie called Elegy at 12:15 pm show in Amsterdam and realized that it was running only at 1:30 pm; instantly browsed the list of movies and selected this strange looking name – Estomago - I thought it was Italian, later realized it was Portuguese. Never knew the meaning till writing this review – it means Stomach.Nonato (Joao Miguel) comes to Sao Paulo city – without any work; after eating food and with no money with him to pay for food, he lands up being hired as a helper cook in a small roadside restaurant. His skills in cooking delicious food with simple things make him hired by a rich high-end restaurant owner Giovanni (Carlo Briani). Nonato falls in love with a prostitute Iria (Fabiula Nascimento), but one day when he sees Iria and Giovanni having sex, his jealously leads him to kill both and Nonato ends up in prison. In prison cell with seven other inmates and headed by Bujiu (Babu Santana), Nonato starts at the lowest hierarchy sleeping without mattress on the floor. But his skills in cooking excellent food promotes him till the highest bumk bed below Bujiu. How he topples Bujiu to get the highest bunk bed formulates the ending of the story.The story runs in parallel narrative of Nonato's work and prison and till the very end one does not realize that which precedes which? This is director Marcos Jorge's second movie and first full length feature film. He tempers the narrative with great acumen of seasoned director – fantastic story idea (adopted partly from a short story – the prison part) and remaining written partly by Marcos himself in a team. Brilliant work in creating a screenplay that is laced with various moods, emotions, and cooking and food lessons.Joao Miguel – plays this innocent, dumb wit cook, and creates magic in filling true life in the character. Those moments in the film – when nothing is happening – Joao captures our imagination as a simpleton with a talent. Fabiula, fits perfectly as the road side – food hungry prostitute. The remaining casting is good and performs well.The movie is marketed as a fable – and it seems appropriate – because of its story and ingredients of sex, love, power, food.I would highly recommend this movie to any movie goer – who is hungry for good cinema.(Stars 8 out of 10)

I saw the movie at the ninth edition of the Rio International Film Festival. Estômago, a Gastronomic Story, wins four awards at Latin America's largest movie showcase. It's about Nonato (João Miguel), who immigrant from the northeast to the south of Brazil and becomes a talented cook. He uses his talent to get a better life and to get the attention of a a voracious and beautiful prostitute Iri (Fabiola Nascimento) The official jury gave "Estomago" a special jury prize as well as awards for best director and best actor (Joao Miguel). The Brazil-Italy co-production also took home the audience award. "Estomago" centers on a talented cook who aims to use his culinary skills to gain power and love.