Born a fully grown black man in a village in the Brazilian jungle, Macunaíma later magically transforms into a white man before making an adventure-filled trip to the city of São Paulo. Once there, he becomes something of a dandy, falling in love with Ci, a revolutionary who dies in an accidental bombing. After robbing a ruthless industrialist, Macunaima returns to his village where he finds his newly acquired knowledge and possessions of little use.
Acting
Grande Otelo's shape-shifting physical comedy is legendary.
Direction
Andrade turns Brazil's founding myth into anarchic pop-art.
Production
Tropicalia aesthetics before the movement officially existed.
Director
Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
Grande Otelo
Black Macunaíma / Macunaíma's son
Paulo José
White Macunaíma / Macunaíma's mother
Jardel Filho
Venceslau Pietro Pietra
Milton Gonçalves
Jiguê
Dina Sfat
Ci
Rodolfo Arena
Maanape
Joana Fomm
Sofara
Maria do Rosário
Iriqui
Rafael de Carvalho
Caipora
Zezé Macedo
Thin woman
Wilza Carla
Fat woman
Myrian Muniz
Venceslau's wife
Carmem Palhares
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Grande Otelo performed all his own stunts at age 50, including swimming with actual piranhas.
The film adapts Mario de Andrade's 1928 modernist novel, essentially inventing Brazilian national identity while mocking it.
BR
