This is one of the best Brazilian movies ever made and also has one of the greatest productions! The movie is based in the book of Jô Soares(who also plays the Chief judge in the movie) a well know man here in Brazil by his culture,intelligence and his television program. There are many famous Brazilians actors and actresses,like Letícia Sabatella,Caco Ciocler,Marcello Antony and Cláudia Abreu.The year is 1886. The city is Rio de Janeiro. The Emperor Dom Pedro II does a confidence for his friend,the actress Sarah Bernhardt: the expensive violin Stradivarius,which he presented the baroness Maria Luiza disappeared.The actress suggests he hire her friend, the legendary British detective Sherlock Holmes, to solve the case. Sherlock comes to Brazil with his friend, Watson, and then, in the tropical city of Rio de Janeiro, he discovers many interesting cultural things about Brazil while trying to know who is the mysterious person who stole the violin.

I must confess that before buying Jô Soares' novel on which this film is based I knew him only as a first-rank humourist, mostly on tv. The novel was quite a revelation, even if at some points slightly herectic to this Absolute Sherlock Holmes fan and unofficial Baker Street Irregular (^-^)But soon I was swept over in the tropical overwhelming style - and I must say much the same happened with this Brazil/Portugal co-production. I'm not trying to swing things my way, but Porto seemed altogheter more convincing than Rio as a XIXth century scenario for Holmes adventures. Joaquim de Almeida is competent as a Holmes set loose in near-tropicalia, but I have to give my highest kudos to Maria de Medeiros' impeccable play of Sarah Bernhardt! Do you know a greater challenge for an actress? All in All - An extremely entertaining film. And a great hope for closer contacts between Brasileiro & Português talento in the field of Cinema!

Jô Soares, famous Brazilian comic actor and writer, created the most unlikely Sherlock Holmes. Joaquim de Almeida performs beautifully with his perfect British accent.The set is perfect in all details showing a fantastic productionwithout concessions of any kind. I had the luck of witness filming of some scenes in Porto where minor details were of great concern to the wardrobe and make-up team. Also in the re-creation of many artefacts used in the set.Although a comedy, this movie never falls to the "easy laugh" thus creating subtle cross-references such as the birth of famous Brazilian cocktail 'Caipirinha' or explaining the myth of Jack the Ripper.A "must see" for everyone looking for a good time and also to learnsome historical facts about Brazilian independence from Portugal as well as the style of living in the late 1800's. One must keep in mind that Portugal (followed by Brasil) was the first country to abolish slavery.

I had my doubts if this movie would be good given the success of novel and the Jo Soares' book rhythm. But I was really surprised by the adaptation. Miguel Faria Jr. did a great direction and the cast was amazing. Joaquim de Almeida is great as the goofy Sherlock Homes and Marco Nannini was at his finest. The art direction is the best in a brazilian movie ever. But still something was missing. This story on the screen just lost its style. A great two-hour spent though, worth the ticket.If possible, I'd give it a 7 1/2.