Nas Margens do Rio (2021)

Taken in small doses as you savour your weekend mornings with tea and some philosophy

14 minutes in you hear one of the titular characters say ‘Life is mostly a matter of chance’ and I think that’s also the principle behind this drama. The drama brings up the nostalgia of camping in the woods and living a simple life. And though the characters are poor and homeless, they are ‘self-sufficient homeless people' which is what the characters themselves say in episode 1.

Based on a play, 'Three Sages by the Banks of the River' by Ayata and Bengal of Tokyo Kandenchi this is a short comedy about homeless people peppered with many philosophical dialogues and interesting instances that make you contemplate about life and happiness. There are no grand revelations or dramatic instances in this slice-of-life drama and the show would come across as boring or slow to first time viewers of this genre. Being contemplative in nature, it's a comedy that goes no where which is symptomatic of the episodic format. To me, this drama is like a relaxing hug after work and I appreciated it's ghetto aesthetic.

The scenic backdrop of the Tama river also lent beauty to the scrap sheds which these characters call home despite them showing little in the way of growth. But still, I am glad to have stumbled upon this gem since it's mediocre reliability and lack of overdramatic elements is what pulled me in to watch this show in the first place.

A 7.5/10 from me. Perfect for those days when you want to watch something calm and scenic...

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