Amor Estranho Amor (English title: Love Strange Love) is a 1982 Brazilian erotic drama that remains famous for its intense controversy and rare English-dubbed versions. Key Movie Details Director: Walter Hugo Khouri.
Cast: Stars Vera Fischer, Tarcísio Meira, and the future Brazilian children's show host Xuxa Meneghel.
Plot: A man reminisces about his childhood discovery of sexuality while living in a luxury brothel run by his mother in 1930s Brazil.
Controversy: The film was famously banned in Brazil for years (1991–2018) due to scenes involving sexual themes with an 11-year-old child actor. English Availability
While the original language is Portuguese, you can find English options through specialized retailers:
English Dubbing: Existing VHS and specialized DVD versions from retailers like J4HI feature English dubbing, though some reviewers on IMDb describe the dub quality as "atrocious".
English Subtitles: If you prefer the original audio, versions with English subtitles are available at sites like DVD Lady. Love Strange Love (1982) - IMDb
Report Title: A Controversial Coming-of-Age Memory: An Analysis of Amor Estranho Amor (1982)
Due to its controversial history, Amor Estranho Amor has not had a mainstream Blu-ray release in the US. However, the 1982 English dubbed version survives on:
When searching, use the full keyword: "amor estranho amor love strange love 1982 english dubbed full movie." Be patient—like any great strange love, this film makes you work for it.
The narrative structure of Amor Estranho Amor is deceptively simple but emotionally resonant. The story is told through the eyes of Hugo (played by Marcelo Ribeiro), a middle-aged man who returns to his family’s estate to settle affairs. As he wanders through the empty rooms, he is flooded with memories of 1937, when he was just a 12-year-old boy.
The film utilizes a classic "coming of age" framework, but it subverts expectations. Young Hugo is left in the care of a high-class brothel run by his grandmother. It is here, amidst the faded grandeur and the mysterious lives of the women, that he experiences his sexual awakening. The central tension—and the source of the film's controversy—revolves around his complicated relationship with his mother, Ana (Vera Fischer), and a beautiful prostitute named Tamara (Xuxa Meneghel).
Love Strange Love is a controversial and provocative 1982 Brazilian drama that blends eroticism with political and moral tension. Set in 1930s Brazil, the film follows an ambitious politician who, seeking power and social influence, becomes entangled with a brothel that doubles as a site for political maneuvering. The story centers on a young boy who forms a complicated emotional bond with an older woman at the brothel; his coming-of-age experience is framed against corruption, desire, and exploitation. Amor Estranho Amor (English title: Love Strange Love
Why it stands out
Content warning
Who might like it
Verdict A polarizing, atmospheric film: powerful for viewers seeking challenging, uncomfortable cinema, but unsuitable for those who avoid explicit sexual material or stories involving minors.
The 1982 Brazilian film Amor Estranho Amor (Love, Strange Love) remains one of the most controversial and discussed pieces of cinema in Latin American history. Directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, the film gained international notoriety not just for its provocative themes, but for the decades-long legal battle led by its star, Xuxa Meneghel, to prevent its distribution. Plot Overview: A Journey into Memory
The story is told through the eyes of an adult Hugo (Walter Forster), a middle-aged politician who returns to a mansion in São Paulo that served as a high-class brothel during his childhood.
The Setting: In 1937, a young Hugo (Marcelo Ribeiro) is sent to live with his mother, Anna (Vera Fischer), who is a favorite at the luxurious establishment owned by an influential politician, Dr. Osmar (Tarcísio Meira).
The Conflict: Hugo is thrust into a world of adult sexuality and political intrigue. While his mother attempts to shield him, the other resident "girls" find the boy's innocence enchanting and begin to toy with his curiosity.
The Core Controversy: The film features scenes where adult women, most notably Tamara (Xuxa Meneghel), engage in erotic situations with the 12-year-old Hugo. Cast and Creative Team
The film featured some of the biggest names in Brazilian cinema at the time:
Vera Fischer (Anna): Her performance as Hugo’s mother earned her the Best Actress award at the Festival de Brasília.
Xuxa Meneghel (Tamara): Then a young model, Xuxa would later become "The Queen of Children," hosting a world-famous TV show. This role stood in stark contrast to her later persona, leading to her extensive legal efforts to suppress the film. Specialty cult DVD reprints (often out of print, check eBay)
Marcelo Ribeiro (Hugo): The child actor who played Hugo. He later detailed his experiences in a book and interviews, noting that the set was mystical and the scenes were filmed with professional care. The Legal Legacy and Availability
For decades, the film was practically impossible to find in Brazil due to judicial injunctions. Xuxa eventually lost her lawsuits against Google and other entities to filter search results for the movie.
While it was banned for sale and marketing in Brazil, it was released on DVD in the United States in 2005. Fans and collectors looking for an English experience often seek out the English Subtitled DVD as official "English dubbed" versions are extremely rare or non-existent in modern retail. Critical Reception: "Awesome Movie" or "Dull Story"? Viewer opinions on Amor Estranho Amor are deeply divided:
Is Love Strange Love a great movie? No. Is it an awesome experience? Absolutely.
It’s a sweaty, sad, beautiful, and bizarre snapshot of 1980s Brazilian cinema filtered through a VHS-to-YouTube lens. The English dubbed version turns the whole thing into a hypnotic artifact—a movie that plays like a half-remembered dream where everyone sounds like they’re in a 1950s Hollywood noir, even though they’re standing in a humid Rio brothel.
So grab a drink, dim the lights, and prepare your brain for something strange. Once you go Love Strange Love (English dub), you’ll never look at children’s TV hosts the same way again.
Have you seen the English dub? Found a better quality copy? Let the cult know in the comments below!
The Complex Legacy of Amor Estranho Amor (1982): Why It Remains a Cinematic Curiosity
When searching for the "best" or most "awesome" cult films of the 1980s, few titles carry as much historical and legal baggage as Amor Estranho Amor (released internationally as Love Strange Love). Directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, a giant of Brazilian cinema, this 1982 psychodrama is far more than the controversial headlines that have followed it for decades. A Masterpiece of "Cinema de Autor"
While many modern viewers seek out Amor Estranho Amor (1982) due to its "forbidden" reputation, it is important to view it through the lens of Khouri’s filmography. Khouri was known as the "philosopher of Brazilian cinema," often exploring themes of existential dread, the vacuum of the upper class, and the complexities of human desire.
The film follows Hugo, a man who returns to his family’s former estate and recalls a pivotal period in 1937. As a young boy, he was sent to live in a luxurious brothel owned by his mother. The narrative is a lush, atmospheric, and deeply melancholic exploration of the loss of innocence set against a backdrop of political upheaval in Brazil. The Controversy and the "Xuxa" Connection
The primary reason the film reached "cult" status—and why many search for an "English dubbed" or "best" version today—is the presence of Xuxa Meneghel. Long before she became the "Queen of Children" and a global superstar, Xuxa played a supporting role in this film. When searching, use the full keyword: "amor estranho
Following her rise to fame as a children’s television host, Xuxa engaged in a decades-long legal battle to prevent the film’s distribution in Brazil, fearing it would damage her wholesome image. For years, the movie was essentially "erased" from the Brazilian market, making bootleg copies and international releases highly sought after by collectors.
Why It’s Considered an "Awesome Movie" by Cult Film Enthusiasts
Stripping away the tabloid scandal, Love Strange Love is technically and artistically impressive:
Cinematography: The film features stunning, moody visuals that capture the opulence and decay of the 1930s.
Atmosphere: Khouri excels at creating a dreamlike, almost claustrophobic environment that mirrors the protagonist's internal confusion.
Historical Context: It provides a unique look at the "Estado Novo" era of Brazil, blending personal psychodrama with national identity. Viewing Today: English Versions and Availability
Finding a high-quality "English dubbed" version remains a challenge for many fans. Because of the legal restrictions that plagued the film for years, most available copies are in the original Portuguese with English subtitles. However, in recent years, as legal battles subsided and Xuxa herself acknowledged the film as part of her professional history, restored versions have occasionally surfaced in international film festivals and niche streaming platforms. Final Verdict
Is Amor Estranho Amor the "best" movie of 1982? That depends on your palate. If you appreciate the erotic psychodramas of the 70s and 80s or the works of directors like Luchino Visconti, you will find it a fascinating, high-art experience. It is a haunting piece of Brazilian history that proves cinema can be both a beautiful work of art and a lightning rod for controversy.
Directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, Amor Estranho Amor is not a traditional love story. It is a psychological drama set against the backdrop of Brazil’s opulent, decaying elite in the 1930s or 1940s. The film centers on Hugo (played by a shockingly young Xuxa Meneghel’s then-boyfriend, Marcelo Ribeiro), a 12-year-old boy who is sent to live in a luxurious brothel run by his mysterious grandmother.
Yes, you read that correctly. The setting is a high-class house of prostitution where politics, power, and desire collide.
Hugo arrives naive and innocent, but the house is a labyrinth of silk sheets, drunken politicians, and lonely, sophisticated courtesans. He catches the eye of two women: the beautiful, maternal Anna (Vera Fischer) and the dangerously sensual Tamara (Xuxa Meneghel, in her first major film role before becoming Brazil’s “Queen of Children”). What unfolds is a strange, dreamlike exploration of sexual awakening, manipulation, and the loss of innocence.
The title says it all: this is strange love—a love that is inappropriate, confusing, tragic, and unforgettable.
The request specifically mentions the "English dubbed" version.