We must address the elephant. Love Strange Love is famous—and infamous—for its depiction of a child’s sexual awakening in an adult environment. This is why the film was banned in several countries upon release. Watching it today requires a mature, contextual understanding of artistic allegory (many critics read the boy as a metaphor for Brazil itself—innocent, exploited, and shaped by powerful, corrupt forces). The English dub, interestingly, softens some of the rawer Portuguese dialogue, making the film more bearable for squeamish Western audiences while retaining the core tension.
First, let's address the elephant in the room and the key to its Western cult status: the English dub. For years, the only way to experience this movie outside of Brazil was through a rare VHS rip featuring an English audio track. It is important to be honest here—this dub is infamous. One reviewer famously called it "atrocious," criticizing its flat delivery and mismatched lip movements. However, this "bad dubbing" is precisely why the movie is so charming. It adds an uncanny, dreamlike quality to an already surreal story. It transforms an erotic art film into something that feels like a fever dream. For fans of vintage cult cinema, this poorly synced, overly dramatic voice acting is a feature, not a bug. It is the secret ingredient that turned a heavy Brazilian drama into a hilarious, unforgettable midnight movie.
Directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, this Brazilian erotic drama follows an adult man reminiscing about 48 pivotal hours in 1937 when, as a 12-year-old, he visited his mother in an upscale brothel. The film stars Vera Fischer and Xuxa Meneghel and has a reputation for its controversial subject matter. Dubbed vs. Subtitled Versions We must address the elephant
The film was given an English-language dub track for its international release . For English-speaking audiences who discovered the film through rare VHS copies, this dubbed version became the primary gateway into Khouri's bizarre world.
The "best" way to watch this movie depends on your preference for audio quality: For years, the only way to experience this
The film builds toward an intense psychological and emotional crescendo, culminating in a highly controversial intimate encounter that forever alters Hugo's perception of love, morality, and family. Cinematic Craftsmanship: Why It Is an Art Film
Set against the backdrop of the real-world political turmoil of Brazil on the eve of dictator Getúlio Vargas's coup, the film is an allegory for corruption and the loss of innocence, both personal and national. Trapped in this sensual, decadent adult world, Hugo is torn between innocent childhood and the hypersexualized environment around him. He is witness to orgies, betrayals, and power games. The film's title, Love Strange Love , is a perfect description of the bizarre, taboo, and Oedipal feelings that permeate every frame. Trapped in this sensual
Why it stands out
For viewers watching the English dubbed version today, the performance stands on its own merits. Xuxa brings a statuesque, almost untouchable beauty to the screen. Her character serves as the primary catalyst for young Hugo’s awakening, and the dynamic between the child and the adult women is handled with a tension that is as uncomfortable as it is compelling.