Short Stories, Irish literature, Classics, Modern Fiction, Contemporary Literary Fiction, The Japanese Novel, Post Colonial Asian Fiction, The Legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and quality Historical Novels are Among my Interests








Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Black God, White Devil (Portuguese: Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol; literally, God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun) is a 1964 Brazilian film directed and written by Glauber Rocha. It was filmed in Monte Santo, Bahia




Glauber de Andrade (14 March 1939 – 22 August 1981), better known as Glauber Rocha, was a Brazilian movie director, actor and screenwriter. He was one of the most important movie directors of Brazilian cinema.   


 Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol; literally, God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun) is a 1964 Brazilian film directed and written by Glauber Rocha. It was filmed in Monte Santo, Bahia

Available on YouTube 

Run Time 1 hour 58 Minutes 


Black God, White Devil (Portuguese: Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol; literally, God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun) is a 1964 Brazilian film directed and written by Glauber Rocha. It is considered a landmark film of the Cinema Novo movement, and is a scathing critique of the social and political conditions of Brazil in the 1960s.


The film is set in the sertão, the arid backlands of northeastern Brazil, during a period of drought and famine. The story follows Manuel, a ranch hand who kills his boss and flees into the sertão with his wife Rosa. They soon encounter Sebastião, a charismatic religious leader who promises salvation to the poor and oppressed. However, Sebastião's methods are increasingly violent and authoritarian, and Manuel and Rosa soon realize that he is not the messiah he claims to be.

Meanwhile, Corisco, a ruthless bandit, is also roaming the sertão, preying on the weak and vulnerable. Corisco represents the destructive force of capitalism and imperialism, and he is a stark contrast to Sebastião's religious fanaticism.


The film culminates in a violent clash between Sebastião's followers and Corisco's bandits. Manuel and Rosa are caught in the crossfire, and their fate is left uncertain.


Black God, White Devil is a complex and challenging film that has been praised for its innovative style and its powerful political message. It is a must-see for anyone interested in Brazilian cinema or in the history of Latin America.

Here are some of the key themes of the film:


Religion and violence: The film explores the relationship between religion and violence, and how both can be used to control and manipulate people.

Good and evil: The film blurs the lines between good and evil, and suggests that both are necessary for change.

Individuality and society: The film explores the relationship between the individual and society, and how the individual can resist the forces of oppressiIon.


Mel u




1 comment:

Buried In Print said...

I wonder how much one would need to understand and know about Brazil to appreciate this; it's a country I'd like to know about more.