Four Days in September (1997)

Brazillian urban guerrilla fighters kidnap the American Ambassador. Now, the diplomat's life hangs in the balance - helplessly caught between a government unwilling to cooperate - and his fear of the captors themselves.

Director:

Bruno Barreto

Writers:

Fernando Gabeira (novel), Leopoldo Serran

Stars:

Alan Arkin, Pedro Cardoso, Fernanda Torres

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Arkin	...	Charles Burke Elbrick
Fernanda Torres	...	Maria
Pedro Cardoso	...	Fernando Gabeira / Paulo
Luiz Fernando Guimarães	...	Marcão
Cláudia Abreu	...	Reneé
Nelson Dantas	...	Toledo
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Jonas
Marco Ricca	...	Henrique
Maurício Gonçalves	...	Brandão
Caio Junqueira	...	Julio
Selton Mello	...	Oswaldo
Eduardo Moscovis	...	Artur
Caroline Kava	...	Elvira Elbrick
Fisher Stevens	...	Mowinkel
Fernanda Montenegro	...	Dona Margarida

Storyline

Fernando, a journalist, and his friend César join terrorist group MR8 in order to fight Brazilian dictatorial regime during the late sixties. Cesare, however, is wounded and captured during a bank hold up. Fernando then decides to kidnap the American ambassador in Brazil and ask for the release of fifteen political prisoners in exchange for his life.

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Plot Keywords:

democracy | military dictatorship | oppression | operation condor | brazilian military dictatorship | 

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Taglines:

Their goal: freedom. Their only hope: an international incident. Their target: the American ambassador.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brazil's official submission to the 1998's Oscars in the Best Foreign Language film category.

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Goofs

The real match in which the kidnappers release the Ambassador on its crowd was between the clubs ''America'' vs ''Fluminense'', not ''Flamengo'' vs ''Vasco'' as the film shows.

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Quotes

[about Maria, the leader of MR-8]
Fernando Gabeira: She either wants to fuck me or fuck me over.

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Connections

References Black God, White Devil (1964)

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Soundtracks

Intermezzo sinfonico
from "Cavalleria rusticana"
Music by Pietro Mascagni

User Reviews

Intelligent and exciting

This is a truly passionate film about young men and women who fight for ideals that they believe in.

A Brazillian rebel group has kidnapped the American ambassador for Brazil, and demands that fifteen jailed political prisoners be let free. This leads to some tense sequences with Fernando, the most intelligent and cowardly of the kidnappers, and the ambassador (played brilliantly by Alan Arkin).

This could have become a routine thriller. It isn't due to it's intelligence and passion. A very worthwhile movie.

** Even if you're turned off by the idea of subtitles, don't worry. There is a lot of English.

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax

Country:

Brazil USA

Language:

Portuguese English

Release Date:

30 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Four Days in September

Filming Locations:

Ponto Filmes, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$32,017, 1 February 1998

Gross USA:

$397,517

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$397,517

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Television Trading Company, Filmes do Equador, Luiz Carlos Barreto Produções Cinematográficas

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1