If the term genre-blurring didn’t exist, it would have to be destined to define Kleber Mendonca Filho’s and Juliano Dornelles’s Brazilian film “Bacurau,” a delirious but distinctive post-modern Western political satire that occasionally uses its anti-colonialism ideology as being a polemic for resistance against conquest. The film can also be read as a combative post-modern satire on the current Brazilian political climate.
One of the most fascinating, thrilling, and messy films to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Filho’s third effort that he has co-directed with newcomer Donrelles, a follow-up to the controversial and bold “Aquarius,” lends reassurance to Filho’s third feature film attempt.
A film in which independent film icon Udo Kier plays a major supporting character, and in which he continues his idiosyncratic sensibilities, surrounded by an ensemble cast of mostly Brazilian players. Though easy to be impressed with the artistry and visuals on display, Kier’s acting, as a mercenary no less, basically amounts to kitsch and deadpan hilarity with outrageous quirks and sensibilities one would expect from the actor. Kier also brings a menace and ultimately a moral compass towards the finale that delivers deep provocations and depth to the material.
The film is also deeply abstract and sprawling in theme, while being grounded in the post-Jair Bolsonaro/Donald Trump era, the film never lacks coherence, focus, and is always resonant in what it’s attempting to explore. The best way to describe “Bacurau” is as a 130-minute absurdist western, in which the characters and scenes play out to many different cinematic influences that would make Quentin Tarantino envious. The film unfolds in a deliberate but equally arbitrary matter that picks up greater momentum and energy during the films second half.
The films first hour is a little frustrating, since there are so many characters living inside a sovereign village that appears to be exiled or has succeeded itself from Brazil. It takes a while to piece together what the film is exactly trying to say, however once elements begin to move forward it is accessible to piece together on a thematic level. The movie is always sprawling and engrossing since the screen is always busy with rich imagery that dangles between pulpy violence and genre mishmashes.
A pastiche or rather a hybrid of genres since Filho and Dornelles’s film is holds hints, references, and images to other works, including Sergio Leone’s “Dollar Trilogy”, Akiria Kurosawa’s “Yojimbo”, and Alejandro Jodorowski’s “El Topo” and “Holy Mountain” with touches of Federico Fellini’s surrealism and Jean Luc-Godard’s political absurdity and idealism. Like the films references, the film is very awe-inspiring in its visual and colorful compositions.
The film opens with a woman Teresa (Barbara Colen) driving down a remote and dusty road. Suddenly, numerous broken caskets litter and block the road from a truck that is transporting them to the local villages. Teresa is on her way to the funeral of her grandmother–who was the local sultan of a small Brazilian village that seems to be succeeded from modern day Brazil. The entire town mourns her death, as the village literally sees itself being erased off the map.
What starts off with abstractions transitions itself into an idiosyncratic Western that holds a lot of impressive set-pieces that consists of a history museum, standoffs, a thrilling climax, and there is even a UFO drone that is always spying on the area. While the film comes off overstuffed, its abstractions and absurdity always resonance. “Bacurau” presents a cautionary tale and dystopian vision of what Brazil is headed towards, the film’s opening title card states “a few years in the future,” the film is indeed making commentaries on the far-right president Bolsonaro and what the fate of the nation can unravel into from the consequences of his policies.
During the course of the film, we see the clinic in the village running scarce in supplies. There is lack of resources and government funding in the community. The village’s doctor Domingas (Sonia Braga) takes the medicine Teresa brought with her from the city. There is even a hilariously satirical scene involving the village’s mayor named Tony Jr. (Thardelly Lima) who campaigns and attempts to win over votes in his re-election campaign with addictive opioids, outdated books, and more caskets. Even the water supply is becoming scarce in the village. There is a brilliant scene of a privatized water truck being shot at from the local villagers, the bullet holes end up draining the water tank as the residents desperately fill up their buckets. This is a reminder of the current privatization of water that remains a reality in South American countries.
Tony Jr. attempts to buy votes with gifts is only a distraction just as politicians attempt to do. He ends up giving clearance to a group of American mercenaries that end up killing local villagers to uphold their colonial motivations. The town is off the map, all GPS images are erased from online maps, and all cell phone signals are cut. The townspeople begin to acknowledge they are being conquered over, and this starts a resistance that leads to a bloody revolution.
“Bacurau” is wholly original, and it’s essential in its style and themes. The films visual language of spaghetti westerns and Japanese Samurai pictures only amp up the stylized violence. At the same time there is depth and substance about our modern world, as it taps into the post 2016 political climate of economic anxiety and paranoia, “Bacurau” depicts a village collapsing in which austerity runs supreme and basic human rights of medicine and water do not exist. The sinister Tony Jr., along with the mercenaries fosters unrest, which coalesces a resistance movement within the community to up rise and rebel against the system that is attempting to rule them.
The film holds impassioned views as it should. The Amazon is in ruins, inequality is running rampant in South America, and indigenous populations are pushed to the sidelines by the ruling class. “Bacurua” becomes a Godardian and paradoxical revenge fantasy that will certainly linger and grow in one’s mind upon viewing.
Totally agree! One of the best genre movies I saw last year. Totally bold and unique.
Saw the movie, found the ideas to be obvious and half-baked. While the genre throwbacks brought some rich style to the material, the ideas felt ham handed while the narrative felt incoherent.
Great review Robert, will have to check this one out.
I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality
articles or blog posts in this kind of space
. Exploring in Yahoo I at last
stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i
am glad to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed.
I so much indisputably will make certain to do not overlook this web site and provides it
a look regularly.
Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is fantastic, let alone the content!|
My spouse and I stumbled over here by a different web address and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to looking at your web page for a second time.|
I love what you guys are usually up too. Such clever work and coverage! Keep up the great works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.|
Great post. I will be dealing with some of these issues as well..|
Hi! I know this is kind of off-topic however I needed to ask. Does running a well-established website like yours require a massive amount work? I am brand new to running a blog however I do write in my journal daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can share my experience and thoughts online. Please let me know if you have any recommendations or tips for brand new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!|
Indihome Jakarta Timur sekarang datang dengan pelayanan pasang jaringan Indihome lewat cara online, anda tak butuh hadir ke kantor indihome untuk lakukan register
penempatan indihome. Ini adalah wujud service digital paling depan dari Indihome Jakarta Timur untuk mempermudah
penduduk Jakarta Timur yang mau nikmati jaringan internet
cepat indihome. Dengan gunakan Tehnologi Fiber Optik, kami menjajakan sejumlah pelayanan paket internet seperti
Singgel Play, Dual Play dan Triple Play. Terkecuali itu kami
menjajakan sejumlah Add On Favorit buat anda cicipi
dengan keluarga.
excellent and incredible blog site. I really
intend to thank you, for offering us much better info.
I have good information as well to sahre come check it out
Hi defactofilmreviews.com owner, Your posts are always well-referenced and credible.
To the defactofilmreviews.com administrator, Your posts are always a great source of information.
Dear defactofilmreviews.com administrator, You always provide useful information.
To the defactofilmreviews.com administrator, Your posts are always well-timed and relevant.
Dear defactofilmreviews.com administrator, Keep the good content coming!
To the defactofilmreviews.com webmaster, Your posts are always a great source of information.
Dear defactofilmreviews.com owner, You always provide clear explanations and definitions.
Hi defactofilmreviews.com webmaster, You always provide useful tips and best practices.
Dear defactofilmreviews.com administrator, Nice post!
To the defactofilmreviews.com admin, Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Dear defactofilmreviews.com administrator, You always provide useful links and resources.
Hi defactofilmreviews.com admin, Your posts are always thought-provoking and inspiring.
Dear defactofilmreviews.com owner, Your posts are always informative and well-explained.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Dear defactofilmreviews.com webmaster, You always provide useful tips and best practices.
I savor, result in I discovered exactly what I used to be having a look for.You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man.Have a great day. Bye
Hello, after reading this awesome paragraph i am as well glad to share my familiarity here with colleagues.
I’m really inspired with your writing skills and also withthe structure to your blog. Is this a paid topicor did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it’s uncommon topeer a nice blog like this one nowadays..
I really like reading an article that will make men andwomen think. Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment!
Well I definitely enjoyed reading it. This information offered by you is very effective for good planning.
I always spent my half an hour to read this blog’s articles daily along with a mug of coffee.