First, forget these top critic reviews, especially, Variety, because those are certainly people that have never been outside of Rio de Janeiro, or perhaps the best view that they have had of Brazilian carnival is from the Copacabana Palace, which does not count or add for a good review. In analogy, it is the same that someone says that she went to the Bay Area to visit Sausalito and claimed to you that she is a Bay Area native. In my moviegoer Netflix binge experience, this is the first Brazilian movie that I watched overseas showing authenticity for one of the most celebrated cities in Brazil: São Salvador in Bahia. This city possesses a strong cultural identity particularly for one of the most well-known Brazilian festivities: the carnival. I would say that it is comparable to Black Orpheus (1959). Obviously do not expect tragic storytelling (which is the case in Black Orpheu) but a light ironic and satirical way to deal with the digital comedy of errors that is an interconnected life with a taste for hidden love. The movie leaves moviegoers with a wish to be there too. Carnival introduces São Salvador from the rich cultural history of a former Portuguese colony port town that maintained its cultural identity in spite of many European colonisations, which receives a historical reference from one of the characters in the movie. Much like Black Orpheus introduced bossa nova to the world, Carnival introduces the well-kept secret of one of the wonderful destinations to enjoy this Brazilian holiday. For an international audience, it reveals some of the tourist attractions in São Salvador and a ravishing landscape: Elevador Lacerda, Baia de Todos os Santos, Igreja do Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, Farol da Barra, which are well visited by tourists are the backdrop of the movie storytelling. The filmmaker also does a good job to introduce viewers to the outstanding cultural assets: the syncretism of Catholicism-African religions are present to refresh the viewer's memory that Brazil was a slave colony like many others in the American continent, nonetheless, Bahia was one of the few places that retained both cultural identities. if you love movies of great scenery, Carnival will not disappoint you. The music marries the movie, so it is enjoyable. For those that understand Brazilian-Portuguese spoken language and enjoy guessing where people are from based on their accents, Carnival can be a trivia show. The Brazilian accents will entice your ear to find out from where those pals are from, with at least four accents on display. There are other São Salvador trademarks to look for: the famous trio eletrico, capoeira, and other cultural references especially the delicious food that one can only savour the real thing in São Salvador. Highly recommended and enjoyable.