Review: Ar Condicionado

Film: Ar Condicionado (2020)
Director(s): Fradique
Starring:  José Kiteculo, Filomena Manuel
Soundtrack: Aline Frazão
Genre: Mystery, Afrofuturism

Directed by Angolan filmmaker Fradique, Ar Condicionado has an eerie, possibly unintentional sci-fi feel. Instead of Xenomorphs or Replicants appearing, the sense of impending doom comes from air conditioner units intermittently falling from the buildings of Luanda. Fradique’s lens captures Luanda as an almost post-apocalyptic city.

The film follows cleaning lady Zezinha and security guard Matacedo, who are tasked with getting their largely unseen boss’s air conditioner repaired. The cinematography is stunning, vividly portraying the city’s post-colonial scars and its strange beauty. Like Spike Lee’s 1989 classic Do the Right Thing, the film stands out in its ability to convey the oppressive heat.

At times, Ar Condicionado feels like a fever dream, especially when we meet Kota Minos, an eccentric repair shop owner with a plan to build a machine that retrieves memories. A truly excellent film with fantastic characters and a gorgeous soundtrack.