How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman (1971)
"Como Era Gostoso o Meu Francês" (original title)

In 1594 in Brazil, the Tupinambás Indians are friends of the Frenches and their enemies are the Tupiniquins, friends of the Portugueses. A Frenchman (Arduíno Colassanti) is captured by the ... See full summary »

Director:

Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Writers:

Humberto Mauro (Tupi dialogue), Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Stars:

Arduíno Colassanti, Ana Maria Magalhães, Eduardo Imbassahy Filho

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Arduíno Colassanti	...	The Frenchman
Ana Maria Magalhães	...	Seboipepe
Eduardo Imbassahy Filho	...	Cunhambebe
Manfredo Colassanti	...	The tradesman
José Kléber	...	Ipiraguaçu
Gabriel Archanjo	...	Mbiratata
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gabriel Araújo
Ana Batista
João Amaro Batista
Hélio Fernando
Luiz Carlos Lacerda
Maria de Souza Lima
Wilson Manlio
Ana Maria Miranda
Célio Moreira	...	(voice)

Storyline

In 1594 in Brazil, the Tupinambás Indians are friends of the Frenches and their enemies are the Tupiniquins, friends of the Portugueses. A Frenchman (Arduíno Colassanti) is captured by the Tupinambás, and in spite of his trial to convince them that he is French, they believe he is Portuguese. The Frenchman becomes their slave, and maritally lives with Seboipepe (Ana Maria Magalhães). *Contains Spoilers* Later, he uses powder in the cannons that the Portuguese left behind to defeat the Tupiniquins in a battle. In order to celebrate the victory, the Indians decide to eat him.

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Plot Keywords:

frenchman | powder | brazil | female nudity | intertitle | 

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Taglines:

The Beginning of the Exploitation of Brazil

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Details

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Tupi French Portuguese

Release Date:

16 April 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman

Filming Locations:

Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Company Credits

Production Co:

Condor Filmes, Luiz Carlos Barreto Produções Cinematográficas, Regina Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was threatened to be vetoed by Brazilian censorship for depicting abundant full-frontal nudity, an issue which was laughed off by historians and researchers of native Brazilian peoples.

User Reviews

This is a film once seen - you'll never forget it.

Why have I never heard of this remarkable film before? It is totally riveting, engrossing. A Frenchman is captured by an Indian tribe in coastal Brazil not so long after Columbus discovered the New World. He is taken as a slave into the village, given a beautiful girl (widow of a warrior he had killed) as his wife, and told that in eight months they will eat him.

The growth of his relationship with the tribe and his native bride, and his acceptance of their ways - while still desperately searching for ways to escape - are spellbinding. This is authentically done, so no-one in the movie wears much more than a string of beads. But you quickly realise how superficial clothes are, and before long you cease noticing that no-one is wearing any. As for the climax - oh boy....