No discussion of "Love Strange Love" is complete without addressing the massive controversy that surrounds it. The mere existence of a film featuring a pre-teen boy in sexual situations with adult women was enough to make it scandalous. However, the story took a dramatic turn thanks to Xuxa Meneghel. As Xuxa's career skyrocketed into becoming a beloved children's television host, her past role in such a provocative film became a significant liability.
At its core, Amor Estranho Amor is a psychodrama told through a nostalgic, dreamlike framing device. The narrative follows an adult man named Hugo who looks back on a pivotal period of his childhood in 1937, right before the rise of the Getúlio Vargas dictatorship in Brazil.
: Then a young model, Xuxa would later become "The Queen of Children," hosting a world-famous TV show. This role stood in stark contrast to her later persona, leading to her extensive legal efforts to suppress the film. No discussion of "Love Strange Love" is complete
Hugo is thrust prematurely into an adult world of political corruption, hidden desires, and moral decay.
Because of her wholesome image as a children's entertainer, Xuxa fought a multi-decade legal battle in Brazil to suppress the distribution of the film, buying up the rights and suing media outlets that broadcasted or sold it. This censorship paradoxically created a massive "Streisand Effect," making the film an object of intense curiosity and driving underground demand worldwide. The legal restrictions in Brazil have since eased, allowing audiences to finally evaluate the movie based on its artistic merits rather than its notoriety. Final Verdict: A Haunting Cult Classic As Xuxa's career skyrocketed into becoming a beloved
Khouri’s cinematography is stunning—lots of long takes and soft focus. Reading subtitles actually pulls you out of the trance. With the English dub, you can let your eyes drift across every velvet curtain, every tear on Vera Fischer’s cheek, every bizarrely posed mannequin in the background. The bad lip-syncing becomes part of the art.
Rather than a cheap exploitation film, Amor Estranho Amor is a slow-burn, melancholic psychological drama. It captures the alienation, loneliness, and confusion of a child trapped in an adult environment. : Then a young model, Xuxa would later
If you are looking for a standard Hollywood thriller, Amor Estranho Amor will surprise you. It is a slow, atmospheric, and deeply challenging piece of art house cinema. It demands that the viewer look past the surface controversy to see a poetic, melancholic study of lost innocence. For fans of 1980s world cinema, it remains a fascinating, unforgettable piece of filmmaking.
As a young boy (played by Marcelo Ribeiro ), Hugo is sent to live in a luxurious bordello owned by his mother's lover, a powerful politician.
Amor Estranho Amor is not an easy watch, nor is it meant for casual entertainment. It is a provocative, transgressive, and deeply melancholic film. If you go into the English-dubbed version expecting a cheap exploitation flick, you will be surprised by its slow-burn pacing, poetic dialogue, and rich visual texture. For those who appreciate bold, uncompromising 1980s international cinema, it remains a fascinating, essential viewing experience.
The musical score enhances the film's surreal, melancholic tone, leaving a lingering sense of unease long after the final credits roll. Conclusion: A Masterpiece Reclaimed