The Given Word (1962)
"O Pagador de Promessas" (original title)

A good but simple Christian dies, trying to keep his vow to Saint Barbara for her to save his donkey.

Director:

Anselmo Duarte

Writers:

Anselmo Duarte (screenplay), Dias Gomes (based on a play by),

Stars:

Leonardo Villar, Glória Menezes, Dionísio Azevedo

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo Villar	...	Zé do Burro / Donkey Jack (as Leonardo Vilar)
Glória Menezes	...	Rosa
Dionísio Azevedo	...	Olavo, the Priest
Geraldo Del Rey	...	Bonitão / Handsome
Roberto Ferreira	...	Dede
Norma Bengell	...	Marly, the Prostitute
Othon Bastos	...	Reporter
Antonio Pitanga	...	Coca, the Capoeira Fighter (as Antonio L. Sampaio)
Gilberto Marques	...	The Galicean
Milton Gaucho	...	Police Officer
Enoch Torres	...	Police Inspector
Carlos Torres	...	Coca's Friend
João Di Sordi	...	Police Detective (as João Desordi)
Veveldo Diniz	...	Sexton (as Velvedo Diniz)
Maria Conceição	...	Auntie

Storyline

Zé-do-Burro has only one worldly possession, his donkey, that he named Nicolas and considers to have a sole like himself, a law abiding Christian just a trifle naive. During a tempest, Nicolas is seriously wounded, and Zé-do-Burro, out of despair, makes a promise: to carry a cross as large as Christ's, to the altar of Saint Barbara - the nearest being in the city of Bahia. He vows to do so in a Candomblé session, dedicated to the goddess Yansan - that in the popular belief corresponds to that Christian saint. Nicolas fully recovers from his illness, and Zé-do-Burro produces a large cross with his own hands and tools, and then carries it on foot to Bahia, accompanied by his wife, Rosa. He has to stay by the church's closed door, and the only person who comes to meet them is Bonitão, the local pimp, who offers to take Rosa to a pension while Zé-do-Burro keeps his promise of staying by the cross. Next morning, the priest is surprised but satisfied with the faith shown by Zé-do-Burro - ...

---

Plot Keywords:

church | cross | priest | reporter | christ figure | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

1 June 1962 (France)

Also Known As:

Payer of Promises

Filming Locations:

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinedistri

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in To Each His Own Cinema (2007)

User Reviews

What a great film

Keeper of Promises is the only and first Brazilian film to win the Palm D'Or at Cannes.

Extremely well-written, the screenplay first introduces us to Zé Do Burro, a man that made a promise to Santa Bárbara that, if she saved her donkey's life, he'd carry a cross from his house in the countryside to a church in the city.

The actors are all great.

It really deserved the prize at Cannes.

It's the best Brazilian film.

And one of the bests of all times.