Amor Estranho Amor (1982), known in English as Love Strange Love, is a Brazilian drama written and directed by Walter Hugo Khouri. It is a highly controversial "coming-of-age" story set against the backdrop of political turmoil in 1937 Brazil. Plot and Themes
The story is framed as a memory of an older man who returns to a mansion he lived in 45 years earlier as a twelve-year-old boy named Hugo.
Discovery of Sexuality: The film follows Hugo as he is sent to live with his mother, Anna (Vera Fischer), in a luxurious brothel frequented by powerful politicians.
Corruption and Innocence: While political radicals plan to overthrow the government, Hugo is surrounded by enticing women who find his naivete charming.
Metaphorical Setting: Critics note that the film uses the opulent setting and the "Teutonic beauty" of the women as a metaphor for fascism and corruption looming over the era. Controversies The film remains notorious for several reasons:
Marcelo Ribeiro and Xuxa: It features sexualized scenes involving Marcelo Ribeiro, who was 11 years old at the time of filming.
Xuxa Meneghel's Legal Battles: Xuxa, who later became a famous Brazilian children's show host, spent years in legal battles to prevent the film's distribution in Brazil to protect her public image.
Themes of Incest: The movie's climax involves a controversial scene of sexual initiation between Hugo and his mother. Availability and Versions Amor Estranho Amor (1982), known in English as
While banned for many years in its home country, it was released on DVD in the United States in 2005. Love Strange Love (1982) - IMDb
The 1982 Brazilian erotic drama Amor Estranho Amor (Love Strange Love), directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, remains one of the most controversial films in cinema history
. While it gained international notoriety for a specific scene involving a young boy and a future children's television star, it is also noted by critics for its opulent production design and its exploration of power and memory. 1. Plot Overview & Themes
Set in 1937 São Paulo against the backdrop of the Getúlio Vargas dictatorship, the film follows the sexual awakening of 12-year-old Hugo. The Setting
: Hugo is sent by his grandmother to live with his mother, Anna (Vera Fischer), in a high-class brothel frequented by powerful politicians. The Awakening
: Surrounded by prostitutes who find his innocence "refreshing," Hugo begins to spy on the house's residents. He becomes infatuated with Tamara (Xuxa Meneghel), a 16-year-old prostitute brought in to entertain a diplomat. Core Themes : The film deals with themes of lost innocence , and the intersection of political power and carnal pleasure 2. The Xuxa Controversy The film's legacy is dominated by the participation of Xuxa Meneghel , who later became "The Queen of Children" in Brazil. Love Strange Love (1982) - IMDb
It would be dishonest to discuss Love Strange Love without addressing the controversy surrounding its release. Many critics accused Khouri of creating softcore child exploitation. Defenders argue the film is a powerful critique of authoritarianism, showing how totalitarian regimes (like the looming 1937 dictatorship) turn human relationships into commodities. The Controversy and Misunderstood Legacy It would be
The truth lies somewhere in between. Khouri frequently explored "cupiditas" (worldly, base desire) versus "caritas" (spiritual, pure love). In Love Strange Love, Hugo represents innocence trying to make sense of a corrupted world. The film never endorses the actions of the adults; instead, it observes them with cold, unnerving clarity. The final scene—where an elderly politician weeps alone—is a damning indictment of how power destroys the soul.
While the film is told through Hugo’s eyes, the true star of Love Strange Love is Vera Fischer. A former Miss Brazil, Fischer delivers a performance that is equal parts bombshell and tragic heroine. Her portrayal of Olga—the woman who can have any man but finds a strange, maternal solace in the young Hugo—is the emotional anchor of the film. Her luminous beauty, combined with a surprising vulnerability, cemented her status as a cinematic sex symbol of the 1980s.
For many international viewers, the "English Dubbed" version is the definitive way to experience this film. While purists might argue for the original Portuguese, the English dub adds an entirely unique layer of surrealism to the proceedings.
The dubbed voices carry a distinctly vintage, slightly detached tone that perfectly matches the film’s dream-logic narrative. There is an inherent campiness to watching such intense, melodramatic sexual and political liaisons dubbed in stilted, theatrical English. It elevates the film from a standard foreign drama into a piece of midnight-movie magic, making the "strange love" feel even stranger.
Directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, Love Strange Love is technically a political drama. The plot follows a successful politician who, during a tense election night in the 1970s, flashes back to his traumatic adolescence in 1937 Brazil. He was sent to live in a luxurious, isolated brothel run by his mysterious mother, Anna (Vera Fischer).
Yes. A brothel. As a teenager.
The film is lush, melancholic, and dripping with sweat and cigarette smoke. It’s shot in that dreamy, soft-focus 80s aesthetic where every shadow feels like a secret. But the reason this film has achieved cult notoriety isn’t just the cinematography—it’s the uncomfortable, poetic tension between a young boy (Marcelo Ribeiro) and the women who “raise” him. but the voices are flat
Calling a movie filled with psychological manipulation "awesome" might seem strange, but Love Strange Love earns the title through pure craft.
For years, this version was lost to bootlegs traded on forums. Today, due to the cult status, you can find the 1982 English Dubbed version on specialized boutique Blu-ray releases (check labels like Mondo Macabro or Severin Films) or on dedicated cult streaming platforms. Be cautious of YouTube uploads—most are the Portuguese cut with hard-coded subtitles that ruin the aesthetic.
When searching, use the exact keyword string: "Amor Estranho Amor Love Strange Love 1982 English Dubbed". You are looking for the full 119-minute cut. Avoid the truncated European versions which cut nearly 20 minutes of character development.
So, you want to watch the "Amor Estranho Amor - Love Strange Love - 1982 - English Dubbed Awesome Movie." You are part of a dedicated cult. For years, this version was considered lost media. Original English-dubbed VHS copies from labels like "World Artists Entertainment" or "Continental Video" would fetch hundreds of dollars on eBay.
Recently, the film has seen a digital rebirth. While official streaming services (like Amazon Prime or MUBI) typically carry the original Portuguese audio with subtitles, the English dubbed version lives on through:
A word of warning: The legal status of the English dub is murky. The Brazilian rights holders have frequently reissued the film in Portuguese, but the English version's distributing rights have expired in most regions. Seek it out at your own risk, but respect the artists.
Let’s be honest: Most purists despise dubbing. But for Amor Estranho Amor, the English Dubbed version adds a layer of uncanny valley charm that actually enhances the film’s strange atmosphere.
Here’s why: