João en het mes

Summary

The first feature by documentarist George Sluizer is a suspense story blending racial overtones and strong dramatic action.

Filmed in the heartland of Brazil, it conveys much of the prejudiced social position and the subservient role of women in the isolated groups of that immense country. The cast is exclusively made up of Brazilian actors. Joffre Soares plays João, an older cowherd and hunter who marries Maria, a young, shy and beautiful girl, who because of her marriage vows, is condemned to remain with João even though they are unable to conceive children.

To make up for their childlessness, João goes into the ‘green hell’ of the Amazon jungle to seek a fortune, but when he returns a few years later, he finds Maria with a child whom she denies is hers but holds an uncanny resemblance to her. Just how João will deal with this remains a question until the surprising conclusion of this film.

Information

original title
João en het mes
foreign release title
João and the Knife
alternative title
A faca e o rio
João
production year
1972
censorship date
01-08-1972
country
Brazil, Netherlands
geographical names
category
Fiction
applicant reinspection
applicant inspection
original distributor
production company

Images

Crew

Technical notations

runtime
95
original length
2599
censorship length
2599
sound
Sound
colour
Colour
format
35mm
acts
5

Resources

Centrale Commissie voor de Filmkeuring (Nationaal Archief; P753)

more information

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