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Brazilian Western
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Wikipedia article
'Brazilian Western' is a 2013 Brazilian crime drama film directed and produced by Ren Sampaio, starring Fabrcio Boliveira, Isis Valverde and Csar Troncoso. It is based on the song of same name released by Brazilian rock band Legio Urbana in their 1987 'Que Pas Este' album.
Originally set for a 2011 release, the film's production suffered many delays. Shootings for the film took place primarily in the Jardim ABC neighbourhood of Cidade Ocidental, Gois, in which the city of Ceilndia, Distrito Federal was recreated as it was in the 1970s.[http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folhateen/928494-folhateen-antecipa-cenas-e-personagens-de-faroeste-caboclo.shtml Folhateen antecipa cenas e personagens de 'Faroeste Caboclo'] Folhateen - Folha.com Shootings of other cities and places mentioned in the song could be done 'in loco'. The film was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.
Plot
Joo do Santo Cristo (Fabrcio Boliveira) was raised in the countryside of Bahia by his parents on a poor, small farm. His father was shot and killed by a police officer as a punishment for hurting the cop's brother, who was himself hurting Joo earlier for trying to steal candy. When Joo is older, his mother dies and he decides to leave home for Braslia, to meet a relative he discovered by looking at some old pictures. Before leaving town, however, he executes his father's killer and is caught by police at the bus stop. After doing time in prison, he is finally able to go to Braslia.
Upon arriving in Braslia, he meets his cousin Pablo (Csar Troncoso) and start doing small illegal tasks for him, such as delivering drugs. Pablo also gives him weapons (including the Winchester 22 cited in the eponymous song). He also starts working at a local carpentry to earn some money. One of his drug delivery operations goes wrong and is stormed by the police. In order to escape, he manages to break into an apartment. There, he meets Maria Lcia (Isis Valverde), a punk music enthusiast and daughter of a senator. Despite the circumstances, they end up falling in love after Joo visits her one more time and asks her out.
When Maria Lcia shows her friend the marijuana Joo can provide, they immediately like it and ask for more. This upsets Jeremias (Felipe Abib), the local drug dealer, and he tries to have Joo killed with the help of his partner and corrupt police officer Marco Aurlio (Antnio Calloni). Maria disapproves Joo's criminal activities and demands him to stop. He promises Maria he will stop committing crimes, but he and Pablo start a new drug empire in Braslia taking advantage of the better marijuana they can offer.
In order to regain their respect and market around the city, Jeremias and his allies organize a "rockonha" (a portmanteau of Rock (the musical genre) and Maconha (marijuana), it refers to a party with rocknroll music and marijuana), and Joo is invited. Upon arriving, he is chased by Jeremias and his two henchman. The trio corners Joo at the edge of a hill, but Pablo and a friend were already waiting nearby. Jeremias turns the tables once again in his favor and reveals that he has several criminals and corrupt officers covering him. Pablo pushes Joo down the hill and sacrifices himself to buy Joo some time.
Joo ends up captured anyway and is taken to prison. There, he spends several days, and each day he is ordered to hold a newspaper in front of him so Marco can photograph both. One day, during this task, Joo manages to grab hold of Marco and sets himself and all other prisoners free. He then executes Marco and heads for a final assault on Jeremias and his drug empire. He starts by killing Jeremia's right handman and stealing all his cocaine, leaving a message daring Jeremias to a duel.
At the assigned place, Jeremias finds three final bags of his cocaine hanging from a football goal. When he approaches the bags, Joo shoots them. They both stare at each other. Maria arrives with Joo's Winchester .22 and aims it at Jeremias. While Joo looks at her, Jeremias takes the moment to shoot him. With Joo, shot and on the ground, Maria kneels by Joo's side, and Jeremias shoots her as well. Jeremias then turns around to check on his wasted cocaine. Joo, still breathing, loads his Winchester and shoots Jeremias five times, killing him. The film ends with Joo and Maria laying dead beside each other and with scenes of them together and Joo's narration.
In a post-credits scene, an alternate, more song-loyal ending is presented, with Joo and Jeremias about to duel in front of a crowd, as originally described in the song. It ends with both drawing out their guns and pointing them at each other, while Maria is shown having a brief spasm.
Cast
* Fabrcio Boliveira as Joo de Santo Cristo
* sis Valverde as Maria Lcia
* Felipe Abib as Jeremias
* Antnio Calloni as Marco Aurlio
* Csar Troncoso as Pablo
* Cinara Leal as Teresa
* Marcos Paulo as Ney
* Rmulo Augusto as Saci
* Juliana Lohmann as Cris
* Rodrigo Pandolfo as Beto
* Max Lima as young Santo Cristo
Production
Development
In July 2005, 'O Globo' informed that production on 'Faroeste Caboclo' had started and was being led by director Ren Sampaio. According to him, he wanted to watch a movie based on the song, and found it funny that he was involved in the production of such film. He described it as a "Greek tragedy".The first contracts to initiate the writing process were done with Russos's family, which approved it. However, in early 2007, Editora Tapajs tried to legally stop the production of the film, stating that it has been holding the song's copyrights for more than 20 years, and saying that the family could not negotiate the movie without their permission.
The final decision of the Superior Court of Justice came on January 1, 2007, declining Tapajs's request to make the film. Since then, the producers spent some time trying to raise funds for the movie.
Casting
The main cast of the movie was confirmed on February 9, 2011. Fabrcio Boliveira was chosen to play the main role, Joo de Santo Cristo; sis Valverde was confirmed as his love interest Maria Lcia; and Felipe Adib will be the antagonist Jeremias. On April 15, 2011, Cinara Leal was chosen to play Teresa, since Fabiula Nascimento had to leave the film due to her busy schedule.
Csar Troncoso, husband of Teresa, was confirmed on 23 May 2011. About his character, he commented:
Filming
Filming began on April 12, 2011. The first scene shot was when Joo de Santo Cristo arrives at Braslia. The production team had to alter the highway so that it resembled the appearance from the 70s. Also, the crew found a 1955 city bus that had been functioning in the capital since its foundation, and used it in the film.The movie was shot in Braslia and in the countryside of So Paulo state. At the border of the Federal District with Gois, a set city was built in order to recreate Ceilndia as it was in the 80s. The set was built in an empty terrain belonging to a landfill company.
References
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