Reaching For The Moon, film review: Opulently shot and full of spectacular imagery

(12A) Bruno Barreto, 114 mins Starring: Miranda Otto, Glória Pires, Tracy Middendorf

Bruno Barreto's handsomely mounted biopic tells the story of the relationship between American poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Otto) and Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Glória Pires).

Opulently shot and designed, full of spectacular, tourist brochure-style imagery of Brazilian buildings and landscapes, the film teeters on the edge of novelettish melodrama throughout.

Otto, though, excels as the very particular, very private and very spiky American poet.