The best Leonardo Villar’s movies
If you love cinema, you will share this ranking of the best Leonardo Villar’s movies, although you may have ordered them differently. In any case, we hope you love it and with a little luck discovering a movie that you still don’t know about Leonardo Villar.
The Given Word
8.3/10
Zé is a very poor man whose most prized possession is his donkey. When his donkey falls terminally ill, Zé makes a promise to Saint Bárbara: If his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross - like Jesus - all the way from his city to Saint Bárbara's church, in the state capital. Upon the recover of his donkey, Zé leaves on his journey. He makes it to the church, but the priest refuses to accept the cross once he discovers the context of Zé's promise.
Juego peligroso
6.6/10
CELEBRAÇÃO - 100 ANOS DO CINEMA NACIONAL
"Portraits and excerpts from Brazilian films from all times. Actors, directors and images that affirm cinema."
The Hour and Turn of Augusto Matraga
7.7/10
Augusto Matraga is a violent agressive farmer who, after being betrayed by his wife and trapped by several enemies, is bitten up and left for dead, being rescued by a couple of humble small farmers who nurse him for a long time until he is well again. Influenced by the couple, Matraga starts a long penitent life while waiting for his hour and chance to payback, starting a fight between his violent nature, his hidden desire of vengeance and the mysticism and goodness which is also part of him.
Brave New Land
6.8/10
Diogo is a cartographer and artist who is encharged to set the new frontiers of Portuguese Colonies in South America. When he reaches the center of the continent, finds apparently nothing but wilderness and ‘uncivilized’ natives with strange ways of living. But Captain Pedro, the rude scout who guides him through the jungle, involves Diogo in an involuntary act of violence which will tie him in an unusual way to that far away country. At the same time, the Portuguese colonists are trying to make peace with Guaicuru Indians (one of the few natives with horse-riding abilities). But peace doesn’t ever have a low price.
O Santo Milagroso
7.5/10
The Big City
6.9/10
Luzia arrives in Rio with the expectation of a new life. In the big city, she meets Jasão, her fiance, a former cowboy, who had left the Northeast. But he pretends not to recognize her and Luzia, alone, is forced to accept the protection of Calunga, an unconcerned man for whom life is a fascinating adventure without character or remorse. After using her, he leaves her in the hands of Ignácio, to whom she asks for temporary shelter. But a reunion with Jasão awakens love again.
The Ballroom
7.2/10
An evening in an old time dance hall in Sao Paulo introduces us to local characters who reminisce about the past, wonder about the future, have fun, flirt, fight and, of course, dance. Its earthy humour and eternal themes of ageing, loneliness and desire is an antidote to grumpy old men and women everywhere.
Friendly Fire
7.2/10
Brazil in the early 70s. Miguel, Eloi, Osvaldo and Paolo take part in armed attacks against the military dictatorship. They pay a heavy price with torture and arrest. Today the four friends still see each other. Only Miguel is politically active. On a photograph from a political meeting in Sao Paolo he recognises the policeman who tortured them 25 years ago and who was responsible for the death of Miguel's girlfriend. The policeman has been officially dead for a few years. On one of their fishing trips together, Miguel tells his friends of his discovery. When they hunt down and confront their nemesis they come into conflict with both themselves and each other.
A Madona de Cedro
7.2/10
Delfino, a quiet man who lives in Congonhas do Campo, a small historical town in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is urged by his friend to steal the image of the Madona de Cedro (the Cedar Madonna), sculpted by Aleijadinho in the 18th century, from the town sanctuary.
Amor de Perversão
6.7/10
Lampião, King of the Badlands
6.6/10
Improvised and Purposeful: Cinema Novo
7.6/10
German documentary for TV about the "Cinema Novo" movement (Brazilian New Wave). Director Joaquim Pedro de Andrade focuses on six Cinema Novo filmmakers working in Rio in 1967.
Chick Fowle, o Faixa Preta do Cinema
About English photographer Chick Fowle. Statements by Anselmo Duarte, Leonardo Vilar, Marlene França, Vanja Orico. A film about directors, actors and teams that Chick Fowle worked and works with, also showing the possibility of renewal that Brazilian cinema can and must have.
