Reviewed by Robert Hull
Stars Geraldo Del Rey, Yona Magalhaes, Othon Bastos, Maurício do Valle, Lidio Silva,
Sonia Dos Humildes, Joao Gama, Antonio Pinto & Milton Rosa | Written by Glauber Rocha
UK certification 18 | UK RRP £9.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 120 minutes | Directed by Glauber Rocha
Haunting, hypnotic and lyrical, or pretentious, pedestrian and prosaic: Glauber Rocha’s 1964 film is absolutely certain to polarise opinion. Regarded by filmmakers such as Scorsese and Leone as inspirational, and lauded by critics worldwide, this is about as far from a traditional Hollywood blockbuster as you can possibly get. However, amid the socio-political posturing and long, lingering takes filled with much portent but little dialogue, there develops a strong argument that Rocha’s film is neither clever nor creatively satisfying.
Set in the 1940s and shot on location on the Brazilian Sertao – the bleak, parched north of the country – Black God, White Devil’s simple structure revolves around Manuel (Del Rey) a cowhand who kills his mean-spirited boss and then runs away with the dead man’s wife, Rosa (Yoná Magalhães). They encounter Sebastião (Silva) a demented priest who believes he is a saint, and who is murdered by Rosa, and, on the run, they fall in with the outlaw Corisco (Bastos) and his gang. Hunting them all is the assassin Antonio Des Mortes (do Valle) hired by the church to kill them in order to prevent insurrection.
It has been claimed that Rocha’s film launched the Cinema Novo movement – which centred on Brazilian poverty, but which also dealt with issues of faith, politics and authority – and it is very obviously a film about more than its basic story. Yet it is often extremely difficult to watch, with the editing being erratic and confusing, and the acting often wooden (though we could say ‘theatrical’ to be kind). Perhaps best viewed by those seeking to expand their cinematic database rather than those who enjoy moviemaking as pure entertainment.
EXTRAS None