Sergio (2020) tells the story of the life of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, Brazilian UN diplomat and self-styled ‘UN High Commissioner for human rights’.
Sérgio is lying in the rubble in Iraq, fighting for his life. How did it come to this? Will he survive?
The movie is an authentic representation of Sérgio’s life (he might be important – but I feel like we’re on first name terms already). More, it highlights Latin American culture and talent and gives another view of Latin Americans, who are all-too-often type-cast as ‘violent’ and ‘sexy’ in Hollywood’s standard output.
Sérgio became UN High Commissioner after serving in numerous humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Cyprus, Peru, Mozambique, Bangladesh and Sudan. He reached the highest position in the UN of any Brazilian, was well-respected and was called – by some – “the most powerful official in UN history”.
His important title, however, didn’t stop him from being sent to Baghdad and putting his life at risk.
Sérgio was undoubtedly charismatic and the rise to UN High Commissioner needed talent, determination and to take his UN work incredibly seriously.
“a film about empathy and how we see each other and see the world.”
Sérgio was played by Wagner Moura, a native Brazilian, is perhaps more playful than the real man. You may already know this if you’re familiar with Moura’s other roles such as Pablo Escobar in Netflix series, Narcos.
Moura, in an interview with Variety, said he sees Sergio as part of “a more ambitious and a political project that I have” to create US movies that show a much broader representation of what Latin Americans really are in America.
Sergio’s director, Greg Barker said he shared Moura’s view. “Wagner finished up Narcos and was looking for a role that did not reinforce stereotypes of Latin males. And then we sort of found each other and realised that we saw the story, saw the world in the same way and wanted to make the same movie, which, as a part, is about Sergio’s internal struggle and, more broadly, a film about empathy and how we see each other and see the world.”
A fair amount of the film explores Sérgio’s personal life. His work meant he struggled to be a part of his children’s lives. And the film covers both his relationship with his ex-wife, Annie Vieira de Mello, and his mistress (and co-worker), Carolina Larriera.
The film introduces us to Larriera’s background and how the couple developed a relationship. This romance, some may say, plays too much of role in the film. I would have preferred more on Sérgio’s political carrier and influence. Perhaps if the movie was about a better-known political figure, their position and influence would be highlighted more.
The film combines romance and drama, with a lot of suspense. If you like movies with a bit of everything, Sergio is a good choice.
It’s a great place to discover Sérgio whose life is well worth exploring.
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 118 Minutes
Available on: Netflix
