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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

95 minutes of Brazil nuts

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Genres:

Fantasy | Comedy

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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...

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Connections

Featured in Cinema Novo (2016)

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Soundtracks

Arranha-Céu
(Sílvio Caldas & Orestes Barbosa)
Performed by Sílvio Caldas

User Reviews

Macunaima is simply one of the strangest and most comical Brazilian films ever made!

Macunaima is Monty Python meets Jodorowsky and Robert Downey Sr. in a pool of piranhas. A full-grown black man, a " Brazillian hero", is birthed from a white woman in drag in the middle of the jungle. He discovers a magical water fountain that turns him white. He moves to the city, falls in love with a bomb bearing urban radical activist who wears a magic stone necklace that brings good luck. The magic necklace is stolen by a by an evil corporate cannibalistic millionaire. This causes a bomb to kill his wife and son (done in such a cartoonish way that it is all the more ridiculous). At this, Macunaima is plagued with bad luck through many of his misadventures and wants to get back the necklace from the evil corporate honcho. Part social satire, part serious political commentary set in a folklore steeped surreal Brazil. Based on the 1928 novel by Mario De Andrade that is considered on of the founding texts of Brazilian modernism; and the film itself is widely considered one of the most important films of the Brazilian Cinema Novo. But if you forget all the academics, it's a wild, weird, colorful, magical, surreal wonder-work with endless memorable moments, such as: a defecating goose, a pool of piranhas in which people swing above on a trapeze until they fall in, a water nymph and much more!! Who can forget such brilliant one liners such as "God gives nuts to those with no teeth". This film is a must see! One of the funniest films of any country! An underrated gem!