January 16, 2004

O Auto da Compadecida

Last night I watched (again) the movie O Auto Da Compadecida, one of the pest pictures to come out of Brazilian cinema in a long time. Originally a TV miniseries, it broke Brazilian box-office records when it was released in its film version.

Plot Summary

The story centers around two northeastern Brazilians, João Grilo (Matheus Natchergaele) and Chicó (Selton Mello). Both men are dirt poor. João Grilo uses his street smarts to get them both a job at the local bakery. There we meet the baker and his wife. He is a henpecked husband, she is an unfaithful wife who cares more about her dog than about her husband.

We are also introduced to the priest (whom João Grilo tricks into performing a funeral for the aforementioned dog), the bishop, a rich landowner and his daughter (who falls madly in love with Chicó). Rounding out the list of typical northeastern Brazilian characters is Severino a cangaçeiro (bandit) intent on attacking the town.

Against the Northeastern Brazilian backdrop, the story unfolds as João Grilo's antics (the canine funeral, a cat that excretes money, sleeping attempted trysts with the boss's wife, and trying to get Chicó married to the rich man's daughter) lead them inevitably to a final confrontation, which happens just as Severino's cangaçeiros are attacking the city.

João Grilo, Severino, the baker and his wife, the priest and the bishop are all killed and find themselves before the judgment seat, giving answer to Christ (who is black!) for their actions, with the devil lobbying for their condemnation.

João Grilo appeals to "someone closer to us" (the Virgin Mary, played by Fernanda Montenegro). Because of her intercession, the priest, Bishop, baker, and his wife are all consigned to purgatory because it is revealed that in their death, they all redeemed themselves. Severino, the murderous bandit, is sent directly to heaven because he suffered a childhood tragedy and was not responsible for his actions." Mary and Jesus disagree on what to do with João Grilo, and thus end up sending him back to earth, to try to live better.

The film ends with Chicó marrying the rich man's daughter, who is promptly disowned by her father, thus leaving Chicó and João Grilo just as penniless as before.

Comments

This film brings into focus the people that make up northeastern Brazil in a masterful way. I can name people I know in that region who fit exactly the characters portrayed in the movie. It also demonstrates how loyal Brazilians are to the Catholic church, even though the abuses of the Church are obvious. The priest and the bishop are obviously materialistic and carnal, and yet the dedication of João Grilo and Chicó never wavers.

I recommend this movie to anybody who is interested in learning about Northeast Brazil. Unfortunately, I cannot find this film in English, not even subtitled. I hope one day it will be.

Posted by Andrew on January 16, 2004 3:38 PM.