Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (2005)
"Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" (original title)

A road movie about a German man who went to the North East of Brazil in the 1942 to sell Aspirin.

Director:

Marcelo Gomes

Writers:

Karim Ainouz, Paulo Caldas,

Stars:

João Miguel, Peter Ketnath, Madalena Accioly

29 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
João Miguel	...	Ranulpho
Peter Ketnath	...	Johann
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madalena Accioly	...	Mulher da Cobra
Jeane Alves	...	Mulher Amamentando
Veronica Cavalcanti	...	Maria da Paz
Jorge Clésio	...	Funcionário dos Correios
Daniela Câmara	...	Neide
Lúcia do Acordeon	...	Sanfoneira
Mano Fialho	...	Caçador
Francisco Figueiredo	...	Rapaz na Estrada
Paula Francinete	...	Lindalva
Hermila Guedes	...	Jovelina
Sandro Guerra	...	Homem da Cobra
José Leite	...	Dono do Restaurante
Nanego Lira	...	Funcionário da Estação de Trem

Storyline

In 1942, the lonely German Johann travels through the arid roads in the country of the Northeast of Brazil in his truck selling aspirins in small villages, using advertisement movies to promote the medicine. He meets the drifter Ranulpho, who intends to go to Rio de Janeiro seeking a better life, and gives a ride to the man. While traveling together, they develop a close friendship, but on 31 August 1942, Brazil declares war to Germany and Johann has to decide if he should return to his home country and fight in the war, or stay in Brazil in a concentration camp; but the option of moving to Amazonas with the migrants of the drought seems to be feasible.

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Plot Keywords:

brazil | aspirin | traveling salesman | leaving home | hitchhiker | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [br] (Portuguese, English)

Country:

Brazil

Language:

German Portuguese

Release Date:

19 April 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures

Filming Locations:

Cabaceiras, Paraíba, Brazil

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dezenove Filmes, Rec Produtores Associados Ltda.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is based on story narrated by director's great-uncle Ranulpho Gomes, who sold aspirins in Brazil during the 40's.

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Goofs

A character in the movie says that Brazil is larger than the United States not including Alaska. At the time of the movie's story (1942) Alaska wasn't a state yet.

User Reviews

great part of world cinema

I just last night saw "Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" (called "Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures" in English). It's an amazing story of a man who flees Nazi Germany and moves to Brazil, where he shows movies to the inhabitants of a destitute village in the northeast of the country and also gives them aspirin, thereby bringing them a new hope.

I like how the movie not only develops the characters, but also shows world events affecting everyone's lives, as Brazil declares war on Germany and it becomes hard for the man to sell the German-produced aspirin. Looking very amateur, the movie has a particularly realistic feeling; the desert setting might even make you feel like you're sweating as the characters do. But overall, the movie's a wonderful look at life and how we make decisions about our directions. As they say in one scene: "With this, you could sell the Devil a Bible!" All in all, a very good movie.