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IMDbPro

Macunaima

Original title: Macunaíma
  • 19691969
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Macunaima (1969)
FantasyComedy
Our story begins with Macunaima's miraculous birth to an old woman in a tiny jungle settlement. Born fully grown, he discovers his life's purpose which leads him and his family and followers... Read allOur story begins with Macunaima's miraculous birth to an old woman in a tiny jungle settlement. Born fully grown, he discovers his life's purpose which leads him and his family and followers on a journey to the Big City. More miracles occur on the way, but Macunaima still has the... Read allOur story begins with Macunaima's miraculous birth to an old woman in a tiny jungle settlement. Born fully grown, he discovers his life's purpose which leads him and his family and followers on a journey to the Big City. More miracles occur on the way, but Macunaima still has the heart and mind of a child. In the Big City, terrorists enlist him in their revolutionary ... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
    • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
    • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
    • Mário de Andrade(novel)
  • Stars
    • Grande Otelo
    • Paulo José
    • Jardel Filho
    • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
    • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
    • Mário de Andrade(novel)
  • Stars
    • Grande Otelo
    • Paulo José
    • Jardel Filho
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos8

    Macunaima (1969)
    Rodolfo Arena, Milton Gonçalves, and Paulo José in Macunaima (1969)
    Joana Fomm and Paulo José in Macunaima (1969)
    Grande Otelo in Macunaima (1969)
    Joana Fomm, Paulo José, and Grande Otelo in Macunaima (1969)
    Macunaima (1969)
    Macunaima (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Grande Otelo
    Grande Otelo
    • Black Macunaíma…
    Paulo José
    Paulo José
    • White Macunaíma…
    Jardel Filho
    Jardel Filho
    • Venceslau Pietro Pietra
    Dina Sfat
    Dina Sfat
    • Ci
    Milton Gonçalves
    Milton Gonçalves
    • Jiguê
    Rodolfo Arena
    • Maanape
    Joana Fomm
    Joana Fomm
    • Sofara
    Maria Do Rosario
    • Iquiri
    Rafael de Carvalho
    Rafael de Carvalho
    • Caapora
    Nazareth Ohana
    Zezé Macedo
    Wilza Carla
    Wilza Carla
    • Fat Lady
    Myrian Muniz
    • Venceslau's wife
    Edy Siqueira
    Carmem Palhares
    Maria Clara Pelegrino
    • Venceslau's maid
    Waldir Onofre
    Hugo Carvana
    Hugo Carvana
    • Man with the duck
      • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
      • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
      • Mário de Andrade(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Myrian Muniz's debut.
    • Quotes

      Venceslau Pietro Pietra: [Macunaíma revealed his disguise as a woman] You're a dude? I don't hold prejudices. Come here!

    • Connections
      Featured in Memória (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Arranha-Céu
      (Sílvio Caldas & Orestes Barbosa)

      Performed by Sílvio Caldas

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    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'
    helpful•31
    6
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Feb 15, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1969 (Brazil)
      • Brazil
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Condor Filmes
      • Filmes do Serro
      • Grupo Filmes
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 35 minutes
      • Mono

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