Macunaima (1969)

Our story begins with Macunaima's miraculous birth to an old woman in a tiny jungle settlement. Born full grown, he discovers his life's purpose which leads him and his family/followers on ... See full summary »

Director:

Joaquim Pedro de Andrade

Writers:

Joaquim Pedro de Andrade, Mário de Andrade (novel)

Stars:

Grande Otelo, Paulo José, Jardel Filho

5 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Grande Otelo	...	Black Macunaíma / Macunaíma's son
Paulo José	...	White Macunaíma / Macunaíma's mother
Jardel Filho	...	Venceslau Pietro Pietra
Dina Sfat	...	Ci
Milton Gonçalves	...	Jiguê
Rodolfo Arena	...	Maanape
Joana Fomm	...	Sofara
Maria Do Rosario	...	Iquiri
Rafael de Carvalho	...	Caapora
Nazareth Ohana
Zezé Macedo
Wilza Carla	...	Fat Lady
Myrian Muniz	...	Venceslau's wife
Edy Siqueira
Carmem Palhares

Storyline

Our story begins with Macunaima's miraculous birth to an old woman in a tiny jungle settlement. Born full grown, he discovers his life's purpose which leads him and his family/followers on a journey to the Big City. On the way, more miracles occur, but Macunaima still has the heart and mind of a child. In the Big City, he is co-opted by terrorists who enlist him in their revolutionary schemes. In the Big City he learns that nuts are not always food and other hilarious lessons of life.

---

Plot Keywords:

terrorist | jungle | birth | new latin american cinema | brazil | 

---

Taglines:

(ma-koo-na-eema)

---

Genres:

Fantasy | Comedy

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

1969 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Jungle Freaks

Company Credits

Production Co:

Condor Filmes,Filmes do Serro,Grupo Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital (re-issue) Dolby SR (re-issue)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

White Macunaíma: Oh, such laziness...

---

Connections

Featured in Cinema Novo (2016)

---

Soundtracks

Mulher
(Custódio Mesquita)
Performed by Sílvio Caldas

User Reviews

Non-Sense, Anarchic, Crazy and Surrealistic Brazilian Cult-Movie

Macunaíma (Grande Otelo / Paulo José) is a lazy anti-hero born black in Amazonas. After the death of his mother, he moves with his two brothers to Rio de Janeiro, but along his journey, he baths in a fountain and becomes Caucasian. Once in Rio, he incidentally meets the killer guerrilla woman Ci (Dina Sfat), who wears an amulet made of stone, and they fall in love for each other. They live together and a couple of months later, Ci delivers a black baby. While carrying a bomb for a terrorist attack in the stroller, the bomb explodes and Ci and the baby die, and the amulet vanishes. A very strong man finds the stone and Macunaíma tries to recover it. In the end, he returns to the jungle.

"Macunaíma" is a non-sense, anarchic, crazy and surrealistic Brazilian cult-movie and I am not sure whether a foreigner may like it or not. The story is funny, and belongs to a very specific moment of the history of Brazil, with the "Cinema Novo" ("New Cinema") and "Tropicalismo" movements and the military dictatorship. Further, it is absolutely original and unique, without any reference to another movie or use of clichés. Just as a curiosity, the rigid censorship in 1969 did not allow to expose two breasts at the same time. It was permitted to show one, but not both of them. The viewer can note that specially when Dina Sfat is in the kitchen wearing no shirt. When she turns, her left breast is covered by an object that she is holding. Today (04 April 2008) I have watched this film again, now in a magnificently restored (unfortunately very expensive) DVD. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): 'Macunaíma'