In this vibrant if somewhat disjointed film, the spirit of Carnival enlivens the visits of two foreigners to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The first visitor is a prominent avant-garde French artist, who comes to the city in 1924, the second visitor is a poet in modern times. Each has a number of parallel experiences in the heady and timeless chaos of Rio during the pre-Lenten celebration, including similar lovemaking scenes at their hotels. Over the course of the film, other poignant stories are briefly recounted, such as the sad fate of a homosexual imprisoned at the turn of the century, or the sweet tale of a romance between a landowner and a pretty girl.
~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide