There are some beautifully realized moments in this picture, specially the ones concerning nocturnal shots. But despite being the greatest grossing portuguese film in history, there are a lot of plotholes and failures for it to pass flawless. The plot is simple. A priest tries to assist a drug addict and becomes addicted to both her and drugs. They start to fall into the hands of narcotics and soon they do anything to urge their needs. But there will have to be a redemption. And meanwhile the film takes his time to display every social matter in the last years. This, mixed with good perfomances from the protagonists, somewhat between good and bad from the secondary players, a good cinematography and editing and a strikingly good score (probably the best thing in the picture) makes this a watchable film but no more than that. Joaquim Leitão did "Adão e Eva" and hit bulls' eye. He did this one and, despite earning even more money, didn't reach the novelty of the other. Still, films like these are good hopes to what the future moviemaking in Portugal can be, specially in technical terms.
6 Reviews
One of the best from the 90s period of portuguese cinema
Danielborges4 February 2021
In the 90s, parents were paranoid and feared for their kids and drug addiction. Portuguese movies surely didn't miss the boat and Tentação was the most popular, becoming a box office hit. And in spite of its dark subject, teachers in my school still decided to show it in classes.
It was nice to revisit the film all these years later. Joaquim Leitão crafted what is probably the best movie of his career and one of the strongest performances by Joaquim de Almeida. A dark story about a priest who goes deep down on a hole to bring back a drug addict back to the light, all in the name of love.
It has the usual technical limitations and I have some issues with Cristina Câmara performance (her first role). But the story carries some strong moments.
It was nice to revisit the film all these years later. Joaquim Leitão crafted what is probably the best movie of his career and one of the strongest performances by Joaquim de Almeida. A dark story about a priest who goes deep down on a hole to bring back a drug addict back to the light, all in the name of love.
It has the usual technical limitations and I have some issues with Cristina Câmara performance (her first role). But the story carries some strong moments.
One of the best in the 90's
renacab26 February 2019
A good idea that vanishes in disappointing interpretations and other nonsense.
Mudhoney25 April 2000
Joaquim Leitão is one of the new wave portuguese directors and we must congratulate him for his will and dedication to new portuguese cinema, but the fact is that Tentação despite having a great background idea, it just vanishes in disappointing interpretations (Cristina Camâra is not an actress, just check "Inferno" and I have seen Joaquim de Almeida perform a lot better) and mindless scenes and nonsense.
Tentação actually had something to be a good movie but it just couldn't really make it because it's way too superficial. Some dialogues are quite horrible and things aren't just clear, just like in that scene Father Antonio (Joaquim de Almeida) rehabilitates himself from an heroine addiction by staying one week locked in a hotel room (gosh, is that really that simple?)
For the future I hope new wave directors like Joaquim Leitão will make it into portuguese cinema and make more and better movies, much better than "Tentação" and surely better than Leitão's last movie "Inferno" which I can't even classify.
Tentação actually had something to be a good movie but it just couldn't really make it because it's way too superficial. Some dialogues are quite horrible and things aren't just clear, just like in that scene Father Antonio (Joaquim de Almeida) rehabilitates himself from an heroine addiction by staying one week locked in a hotel room (gosh, is that really that simple?)
For the future I hope new wave directors like Joaquim Leitão will make it into portuguese cinema and make more and better movies, much better than "Tentação" and surely better than Leitão's last movie "Inferno" which I can't even classify.
the rise of Portuguese cinema
cush-25 February 1999
Well..., what can I say..., Joaquim Leitao, Tino Navarro, all cast and crew, especially Cristina Camara, were winners on this one! For the first time, in a Portuguese film, I was given the chance to care about someone in the story. Especially for the character of Cristina, Lena. She was absolutelly fabulous! Her character was extremely well designed. Bare in mind that Portuguese films are not known for having three dimensional characters! But Cristina, with the help of the fabulous Joaquim de Almeida as Father Antonio, proved that it is possible to bring a fictional character to life, and most importantly, care about that character. My best complements to Joaquim Leitinho, that proved once again that he is ready to take Portuguese cinema by storm! As far as I am concerned, he is the only one that gives the audience a chance to comunicate and relate to the film. As a Portuguese citizen and a film student in England, I really apreciatte what the creative team behind Tentacao did with the film, I was really, really proud of it! It inspired me most than anything else to believe in Portuguese cinema! Well done boys, keep on rockin'!!!
One of the Best portuguese movies in the last 30 years
Justerini30 May 2003
This is really a great movie of the new generation of Portuguese actors and producers.Tho its not as good as the old portuguese movies, i think this movie started a new concept in the way Portuguese make and see their own movies. A wonderful representation of Joaquim D'Almeida, Cristina Câmara ( what a debut), and, as always, Diogo Infante, which is for me, the best Portuguese Actor of our times.As a resumee, this movie is a movie everyone should see.
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