A courageous complicated Diplomat that deserved a better film

Sergio

by Kathia

Brazil's political history has been torrid to put it politely. So, when it was announced that a film about Sergio Vieira de Mello was being made naturally, I was excited. As a Brazilian, I was happy to see a movie about a Brazilian political figure that wasn't indicted, impeached, or jailed. Sergio Viera De Mello wasn't a perfect man, but he was an outstanding diplomat. He was often likened to a modern-day Bobby Kennedy. The world was finally going to know the man that may have been the first South American Secretary-General.

The film opens with the explosion that ultimately killed him. One expects to see a young Sergio, but the film doesn't go back that far. It only backtracks to his time in Cambodia, where he helped led East Timor to independence. This assignment cemented his career as an effective negotiator. It is during this mission that he meets Carolina, an encounter that would change his life.

His last post was in 2003 as a UN special envoy to Iraq.

In Iraq, he faced an impossible mission. The audience never gets to see the challenges he endured trying to bring diplomacy to war-torn Iraq.

There is a disconnect by Screenwriter Craig Borton to paint a full picture; instead, we keep getting pieces of a puzzle that doesn't connect. We never get to know all of Sergio Viera de Mello. The audience is robbed of a complete story. We learn nothing about his upbringing, his years at the Sorbonne, or what sparked his desire to become a UN Diplomat. Sergio was a proud Brazilian and adored his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. We don't learn how this affected his view on the world.

Wagner Moura (Narcos) and Ana De Armas (Knives Out) are terrific; however, that didn't save this telenovela. As a reviewer I understand that Hollywood takes creative license. I know there are time constraints; however, this was revisionist history. Missing was an essential part of his story, his widow Annie Viera De Mello and his two sons Laurent and Adrien. The sons were given a two-minute appearance to demonstrate that Sergio wasn't the best father. People get married and fall out of love, but Annie married him in 1973. She sacrificed so Sergio can achieve his dreams. Greg Baker never mentioned her by name. He took great liberty to erase her from the funeral scene, nor did he explain in the closing credits why those decisions were made.

This film wasn't about Sergio's life but his affair with Carolina. At times dare I say for such a worldly and well-respected man he came across as selfish. It was almost as if Baker wanted to justify the actions that Sergio the human-made to sustain Sergio, the diplomat.

This film also never explained what fueled Sergio to dedicate 34 years of his life to the UN. He wasn't well known in the US amongst the general public; however well regarded by his peers. He also approached his interaction with foreign leaders in a non-traditional way. Every time there is an opportunity to inform the film pivots back to him and Carolina.

It should be noted that Baker also made a documentary on Sergio; this was his inspiration for Sergio the film. There was an opportunity here to introduce the world to Sergio Vieira de Mello. Still, to reasons unknown, Baker chooses to make the focus off the film his relationship with Carolina. Sergio accomplished a lot in his 55 years. Unfortunately, the audience is going to have to wait for someone else to tell the complete story, not just the salacious parts.

Scale- I give this film a 5. It failed to tell a complete story. It also wasted two excellent performances.