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 recovery 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.
Acting
Leonardo Villar's shoulders carry the whole film, literally
Direction
Duarte makes suffering look almost biblical in scope
Cinematography
Harsh light on cracked earth, faces, institutional marble
Director
Anselmo Duarte
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Brazil's first Palme d'Or winner and kicked off the international recognition of Cinema Novo, a movement obsessed with exposing how colonialism and capitalism brutalized the Brazilian poor.
BR
