Vivid period drama starring José Dumont and Rodrigo Santoro. The Brazilian badlands, 1910: doomed to die if he decides to participate in a family feud, the son of a sugar farmer hits the road with a circus beauty to sample life before it's too late.
Inspired by the novel Broken April by Albanian writer Ismail Kadaré, this handsome tale of feuding families in the Brazilian badlands of the early 1900s brandishes its art house credentials like a badge of honour. Every composition devised by director Walter Salles and his Central Station cinematographer Walter Carvalho is painstakingly exquisite. However, for all the touches of magic and gushing pathos, there's no real thematic or emotional depth to the proceedings. This is especially so once marked man Rodrigo Santoro hits the road with circus performer Flavia Marco Antonio and tries to experience life before his destiny overtakes him. It's immaculate film-making, but less than satisfying cinema.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Father | José Dumont |
| Tonho | Rodrigo Santoro |
| Mother | Rita Assemany |
| Salustiano | Luiz Carlos Vasoncelos |
| Pacu | Ravi Ramos Lacerda |
| Clara | Flavia Marco Antonio |
| Mr Lourenço | Othon Bastos |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Walter Salles |
