Trabalhar Cansa

Trabalhar Cansa, a gripping 2011 Brazilian film directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra, explores themes of class struggle, everyday life stresses, the balance between work and personal life, and the subtle, pervasive horror of economic anxiety. The film features compelling performances by Helena Albergaria, Marat Descartes, and Naloana Lima. Unlike typical horror films, Trabalhar Cansa merges social commentary with psychologically chilling elements, effectively blurring the lines between these two genres.

Trabalhar Cansa, which loosely translates to 'work tires' in English, focuses around the seemingly normal life of a lower middle-class couple in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The narrative revolves primarily around Helena Albergaria's character, Helena, an ambitious housewife who decides to open her own grocery store, swapping domestic life and maternity for entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, her husband Otavio, played by Marat Descartes, suddenly finds himself unemployed. While Helena is enthusiastic about her new venture, her excitement gradually transforms into anxiety as she grapples with the constant challenges of running a small business.

Her life takes a turn for the uncanny when she begins encountering strange occurrences at her store. Unexplainable circumstances like disappearing items and strange noises combined with dealing with complex labor issues both scare and confuse Helena. Unable to turn a blind eye to these eerie events, she becomes increasingly consumed by her struggle to keep her business afloat amidst these bizarre happenings.

Parallel to Helena's narrative, the film also closely follows the day-to-day life of her husband Otavio. Otavio handles unemployment with a lesser degree of grit and optimism, succumbing to restlessness and depression. As the movie progresses, it becomes obvious how his unemployment affects him psychologically, turning his days into an endless loop of apathy and despair. Their contrasting reactions to their individual struggles contribute to an increasing tension and disconnection in their relationship.

Additionally, in her desperate attempt to save her business, Helena hires a poor, older woman named Paula (played by Naloana Lima) as a janitor. Paula's eventual involvement with the strange occurrences at the grocery store adds a fresh perspective and enriches the plotline, introducing further conflicts and dynamics. The film subtly dwells upon how Paula fits into the broader socio-economic structure, mirroring the struggles of the working class in Brazil.

Trabalhar Cansa provides a rich depiction of the stark realities and struggles of the working classes in a neoliberal, capitalist environment. The horror in the movie isn't just supernatural; it derives as much from the relentless grind of its characters' lives, as well as the small, against-the-odds hopes that they foster. Helena's story, in particular, is a commentary on the consequences and pressures of chasing individualistic dreams within a dog-eat-dog capitalist system.

Visually, the film is grounded in stark, underlit realism, brilliantly capturing the ordinary details of urban life in Sao Paulo. Its tight shots and authentic settings do an excellent job of illustrating the bleakness of its lower middle-class characters' lives. The consistently ominous soundtrack, meanwhile, enhances the overall feelings of dread and looming disaster.

Performance wise, Helena Albergaria excels in her portrayal of Helena, conveying her character's growing anxiety, frustration and fear with remarkable sincerity. Marat Descartes effectively captures the vulnerabilities and plights of an unemployed man. Despite limited screen time, Naloana Lima manages to leave a lasting impression with her deeply empathetic portrayal of Paula.

What makes Trabalhar Cansa engrossing is its ability to seamlessly integrate the real-life horrors of anxiety, ambition, and work stress with elements of supernatural horror. Directors Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra manage to make a strong statement about middle-class life, modern alienation, and socioeconomic tensions with this intricate and haunting narrative. The film effortlessly combines accessible social realism with a compelling and intelligent horror metaphor, culminating in an extraordinarily insightful and impactful work of art.

In conclusion, Trabalhar Cansa is a subtly layered and profoundly unsettling exploration of various social themes, while still offering an engaging fictional narrative. It's a film that merits praise for its capability to manifest symbolic horror out of real socioeconomic situations. Those who appreciate cinema with depth, realism, and an element of suspense, may find Trabalhar Cansa an intriguing watch.