Glory to the men who raise up the nation
Our beloved nation, Brazil
Since the times of Pedro Cabral
Who called this land glorious One fateful day in April
ADAPTED AND WRITTEN BY JOAQUIM PEDRO DE ANDRADE
BASED ON THE BOOK BY MÁRIO DE ANDRADE
Glory to those men, heroes of our country
The fortunate land of the Southern Cross
Glory to those men, heroes of our country
The fortunate land of the Southern Cross
Even as the land first appeared
Shimmering green and gold over the sea
This land of Brazil which came to light
Was the native home to noble heroes
Even as the land first appeared
Shimmering green and gold over the sea
This land of Brazil which came to light
Was the native home to noble heroes
Glory to the men who raise up the nation
Our beloved nation, Brazil
Since the times of Pedro Cabral
Who called this land glorious One fateful day in April
With the voice of the raging waterfalls
Of the winds and the oceans Rippling in the blue
Glory to those men, heroes of our country
The fortunate land of the Southern Cross
Glory to those men, heroes of our country
The fortunate land of the Southern Cross
DIRECTED BY JOAQUIM PEDRO DE ANDRADE
Deep in the virgin forest,
there was such a great silence,
while listening to the murmuring of the Uraricoera River, that...
That's it. He's born.
It's a boy, Mother.
Just look at his face, Mother. Isn't he adorable?
Good Lord! That boy's ugly as sin!
You're no beauty yourself, ma'am.
Don't cry, little brother.
Being ugly doesn't matter.
- And what about his name? - Macunaíma.
Names that begin with “ma”...
bring bad luck.
Macunaíma, hero of our people!
And so it was that in a place called Pai da Tocandeira, Brazil,
Macunaíma was born, hero of our people.
Even in childhood, he did astonishing things.
- How about a kiss for your sister-in-law? - He'll spit on you.
No, he won't.
The thorn that pricks is still a barb when small.
That boy is very intelligent.
First off, Macunaíma went more than six years without talking.
For fun, he decapitated ants.
He always stayed off to the side, watching the others work,
mainly his brothers,
Maanape, already a geezer, and Jiguê, in the vigor of manhood.
Does it taste good, sweetheart?
You can't talk, boy?
Ah, feeling lazy.
Macunaíma spent the days lying down,
but if he ever laid eyes on money, he'd jump to earn a penny.
He also woke up whenever the family went to bathe in the river,
all together and naked.
Sofará, Sofará!
What's the matter, Sofará? Did a crab bite you?
There are lots of land crabs here in this fresh water.
I'll dive in again and see if it's true.
It bit me!
That's funny.
The crabs don't bite us. They only bite you.
I've never seen a land crab in fresh water!
There's more shamelessness than crabs in there.
Did you go pee-pee?
Yes, Mother.
Blessings, Mother.
Good morning, sweetheart. Is it already time to wake up?
What are you doing?
Can't you see? I'm making a trap to catch tapirs.
Are there tapirs around here?
You know, I saw fresh tapir tracks over by the termite nest.
- Gimme a piece of rope. - What for?
I'm gonna make a tapir trap too.
Don't even think about it! This isn't a toy for children.
Aw, are you crying, everybody's little sweetheart?
No, I'm not.
- Don't you want to tell me about it? - No.
What is it?
Jiguê won't give me any rope to catch a tapir.
Ropes aren't toys for children. You could hang yourself.
Idiot.
Sofará! Hey, Sofará!
Take this little devil away or I'll go crazy!
Make him a trap, anything! Just get him out of here!
- I'm afraid he'll grab me again. - Get him out of here!
Let's go, sweetie. I'll make you a trap. Come on.
Sofará was a bit of a sorceress.
After she had made the trap,
she pulled from her privates a cigarette for the boy to smoke.
Take it.
Smoke it.
Smoke it!
As soon as he took the first puff...
Macunaíma became a handsome prince.
How handsome you look.
Really?
So handsome.
Take me in your arms. You look so handsome.
- Come with me. - Not here. Too many ants.
Let's go there.
Come on, quickly!
Didn't you do any work today?
Can't you see I'm exhausted? This boy played with me so much.
I'll teach you to play with others instead of doing your duty working for me!
Blessings, Mother.
Blessings, my son.
Sofará helped, but I had all the ideas.
Jiguê was very foolish.
He put his trap right where the tapir's tracks started.
But I knew that if it went away, it had to come back!
I put my trap where the tracks ended,
which is where it would start on the way back.
It would have to go past my trap first and then past Jiguê's trap.
Said and done! I got the tapir and Jiguê got nothing!
You first, Mother.
What about me?
This is tripe!
Yep, and it's good enough for you!
I'm the one who caught it, and all I get is tripe!
Yep, and that's good enough for you! Eat up and don't talk back!
Poor little thing.
If you like, ma'am, I can take him for a walk in the woods.
- Jiguê! - Sofará!
Take that! Stop, Macunaíma! Stop, Sofará! Son of a mare!
Jiguê was very foolish.
He sent Sofará away and quickly found a new companion, Iriqui.
She was always dressing up,
but she was quite shy and played dumb.
One day the floods came.
The banana groves rotted.
As for game, no one could catch anything else.
Not even an armadillo was to be found.
Hunger fell upon the hut.
Keep looking. There are still lots of fish over there.
Yeah, right there!
Maanape!
Look over in that grotto where they say there's money hidden.
- There! - Where?
There!
Hey. Jiguê!
Yesterday, I saw loads of catfish passing through there.
Go look! Go look!
Right there!
They're candiru, Maanape!
They swim up any hole, those little bastards!
Get away! Get away!
Hold this, Maanape.
- Are those the fish you saw? - No.
Only those damn candirus trying to swim up inside us.
That's funny.
I swear I saw a ton of fish right here yesterday.
Really?
You know, those fish used to be people just like us.
- Really? - When they saw you coming, they split.
Mother.
Close your eyes and ask like this,
“Who will take me to a nice dry place with bananas and lots of food to eat?”
Ask like that, Mother. Ask.
Who will take me to a nice dry place with bananas and lots of food to eat?
Open your eyes, Mother!
Mother, not to be nosy, but why are you taking so much?
To take to your brothers and the beautiful Iriqui, who are starving.
Mother, ask like this. “Who will take me back to the marsh?”
Close your eyes and ask.
And leave this food here!
Who will take me back to the marsh where there's no food at all?
Who will take me back to the marsh?
Who will take me back?
You can open your eyes, Mother.
Why, Maanape, you're so skinny, Brother!
Come here!
Up you go.
Where are you taking me, Mother?
All right. Get down.
Now your mother is leaving.
You can stay here all alone. You're done growing up. Got it?
That'll teach you to behave. Brat!
Mama!
The hero felt like he was about to cry.
But since nobody was around, he didn't cry.
He plucked up his courage and went on his way.
He wandered from place to place for a week
until one day...
Grandpa, give me a piece of meat to eat.
Of course, my child.
Here.
What are you doing in these woods, son?
Nothing. Just taking a walk.
- You don't say? - Yes, just walking.
Would you happen to know the way to my house?
You go this way, right this way.
You go past that tree, bear left,
turn and come back this way.
Okay.
Ah, feeling lazy.
Mama!
Flesh of my leg!
- Flesh of my leg! - What is it?
Flesh of my leg!
What is it?
Flesh of my leg!
Mother!
- Flesh of my leg! - What is it?
Flesh of my leg!
What is it?
My God!
It was a currupira! Help me, woman!
- What happened, boy? - The currupira tried to eat me, ma'am!
It's all my mother's fault.
I gave my mother some food to eat.
She wanted to take it to my brothers.
I took the food and hid it.
You did that to your mother, did you?
You did that to your brothers, did you?
Then you're not a child any longer! Only grown-ups do that!
I'll give you clothes to fit your big, dumb noggin.
The little old woman, named Cotia,
showed our hero the right way home.
Mother, I dreamed I lost a tooth.
- That means a death in the family. - That's right.
Mother!
I can't take it. I can't take it!
Stay with him, Iriqui. Console him.
The brothers fasted for the prescribed period
while Macunaíma lamented heroically.
And after that difficult period,
they took Iriqui by the hand and set off for this world of God.
Hey!
Jiguê! I'm white!
I'm handsome.
Maanape.
You're already white. What if you turned black?
Where'd it go?
What bad luck, Brother! Only my palms turned white.
Don't be sad, Brother.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Let's go!
Everyone out!
Time to get out, everyone.
Get out. Let's go. Hurry up.
Everyone out. Gotta walk the rest of the way.
Let's go, everyone! Hurry up!
Everyone out, quickly, now.
Jiguê!
Jiguê, Maanape!
Let's go, Jiguê!
Quickly, now.
Everyone out. Gotta walk the rest of the way.
If they see you coming, they'll arrest everyone and send you back to the country.
The city's already full of beggars.
Now it's every man for himself and God against all!
Iriqui really loved the city
and quickly found a job in a brothel, in the red-light district,
disappearing from the film.
Macunaíma was terribly worried, but for a different reason.
He couldn't tell what were machines and what were people in the city.
And this disturbed him.
- What else do I have to get? - A certificate of vaccination, of course.
First go to the Ministry of Finance, get the stamps,
then go to the notary and pick up your documents to be signed.
- Let's go, Brother. - Then with your 3x4 photos,
you can go to the police for identification.
- Don't forget the notary! - Let's go.
The hero went a week without eating or playing,
just thinking about the machines.
One Saturday night, his thoughts were suddenly illuminated.
The people were machines,
and the machines were the people of the city.
Macunaíma felt free again and went for a walk with his brothers.
Something's up.
Good Lord!
Watch out.
Run, Brothers. Run!
Out of the way!
- Which way did she go? - Speak up!
That way. See her footprints?
Run, hurry! Catch that she-devil!
Let's go get that girl!
Don't shoot.
- You snitch. - No.
- You're going to die. - You don't understand, miss!
I tricked them and said the tracks went that way.
But they weren't your tracks. They were some tapir tracks over there.
They weren't your tracks.
Then they went off that way.
And I came this way tracking you, 'cause I picked up your scent.
You're so beautiful.
Back off!
You're very beautiful, miss, you know?
I wanted you like crazy.
Don't go away, my dear.
Give me a hug.
No woman beats me! I'll get you!
- Oh, yeah? - You're hurting me, miss!
Maanape, help me! Help me before I kill her!
I'm coming, Brother!
It's moving.
Come on.
Leave that stone here.
- Wait downstairs. - I want some too.
You stand watch. Make sure nobody comes.
That woman is fierce. She'll kill you.
Come on!
Here, give me your hand.
Is this thing safe?
Yes, Brother.
Where's the girl?
And Macunaíma?
Up there?
Get your hands off!
You're so naughty!
Our hero now lived peacefully at the home of Ci,
the warrior who loved to play with him.
Macunaíma?
Listen, it's us!
Us! Me and Jiguê.
- Listen, Jiguê wants to know... - You do! You do!
...if we can come and live with you.
Don't even think about it!
Listen here, Maanape.
One's not enough, two's company,
but four is a total mess.
In the mornings, Ci would wake up early and go wage war in the city.
Macunaíma would stay at home resting.
Mandu sarará
I had exile for a father
And unhappiness for a mother
Mandu...
I brought you a present.
What is it?
- Something you really like. - What?
- Guess! - I don't know.
Money.
Gimme. Gimme.
Money.
- It's a lot. - Yeah, come and get it.
Come here.
- Is there more? - Yes, there is.
If you want to earn that money, you'll have to work for it.
- Come on. - Gimme.
Come on.
I'll get you.
Gimme the money.
Wow, you smell so good, babe.
It's gunpowder, sweetheart.
- Do you like it? - Very much.
Hello. Hello?
- Is Ci there? - She can't come to the phone right now.
She's very busy.
Call back later, sir.
Good Lord.
Will you give it to me?
Don't even think about it.
Then take it off. It hurts me.
I'd rather die.
I'll tell you a secret.
This is a good-luck stone. It's called a muiraquitã.
As long as I have it, only good things will happen to me.
Like you.
Then lend it to me.
I'll leave it to you when I die.
Let's play again!
Come.
Ah, feeling lazy.
I'll wake you up.
Come here.
MANY TIMES LATER...
Don't go to sleep.
- Don't do that, you wildcat! - I will.
Let's go to sleep, darling.
No, let's play!
Let's play.
- Well, hero? - Well, what?
- You're not going to go on? - Go on what?
Well, honey, we're playing and you just stop right in the middle!
I forgot.
Hold on. I'll show you, lazybones.
Ouch! Stinging nettles!
No, not with nettles!
In this manner, within six months,
Ci gave birth to a black son.
Macunaíma rested for the prescribed month after delivery,
but he refused to fast.
The baby was flat-headed.
Macunaíma flattened it even more by patting it every day
and saying to the kid,
“My son,
grow up fast so you can go to São Paulo and make a lot of money.”
Mama! Mama!
Hold on, sweetie! Mama's coming.
10:15.
10:30.
10:45 for enough time to get there.
Another five minutes.
11 o'clock, I'll be at the Cathedral.
I think 11:15 will be all right.
What time did you set it for?
11:15. But I think the clock is running a little fast.
Put the kid in the buggy.
Come.
Come here.
- Will you wait? - Aren't you late, sweetheart?
I am, but just one more kiss.
Last one.
All right, we'll come back to this later.
If it's for me, say I left already.
Hello.
You're such a drag, Maanape.
What boardinghouse?
Is the food good?
Heavy?
No, I'm talking about the food.
Lunch or dinner?
Something terrible just happened! I know something terrible just happened!
She blew up!
The hero found nothing to bury.
Even so, he insisted on going to the cemetery.
Don't cry, little Brother.
I can't take it.
Gimme those glasses.
Don't let it get you down.
Hell, if one crab dies, the whole marsh doesn't mourn.
Two! Two crabs.
Get over it, Brother. Let's go have some fun.
Maanape's over the hill, but you and I are still young.
Well, Brother, a first love has no rival.
She lives up there now, beautifully adorned...
free from the ants...
all adorned with light...
transformed into a star.
Light... Ci.
It's a vulture.
Daddy came and told me
You won't have any love
Mandu sarará
Mama came and gave me
A necklace made of sorrows
Mandu sarará
He must be rich.
- Don't be greedy. - How handsome!
I've told you already!
Get away from him! Get out of there!
Please, Mother.
Leave him to me.
Mother, look how handsome he is.
I want him too.
Let me, Mother.
Don't you leave that boat, you hear, my pet?
You wait right here for us.
Damn it.
Think I'm some wimp who takes orders from a woman?
You pirate, see what happens when you go off with the first girl you meet?
A mouth full of sores. That mouth!
Now have some of this tea,
so you'll be back in shape for the next girl.
I can't wait to see who she'll be.
The best thing for sores, ma'am, is a key to the tabernacle.
Maanape went to find one at the church.
- Your picture's in the paper. - Really?
- Let me see! - Give it here.
“Crimes Against Decency in a Park!”
Take this key. Suck on it!
The priest chased me down. It wasn't easy to shake him.
Let me see!
You're famous, my angel.
The muiraquitã!
“The Champions of Private Enterprise.” “The giant of industry and commerce...”
- Read it normal. Your voice sounds weird! - I swallowed the key.
“The giant of industry and commerce, Mr. Venceslau Pietro Pietra,
told the press that the most precious stone in his collection
is an ancient amulet called a muiraquitã that brings great luck to its owner.
He found it in the belly of a catfish!”
It was right here inside this catfish.
I had it stuffed, but it didn't come out so good.
You waste of space!
When I bit into its belly, there was the stone,
hard as can be.
I almost broke a tooth.
Fake.
- Sir, but didn't you clean the fish first? - Clean the fish?
I don't clean anything! I don't have time for that!
You waste of space!
I eat fish raw.
Whatever state it's in, that's the way I eat it. End of story.
Here's the stone, here's the fish for anyone who doesn't believe me.
Any of these miserable workers could have found that stone.
But no, it was I! It was I who found the muiraquitã
And the muiraquitã brings great luck.
So I became rich.
And since money also brings great luck, I became very rich.
Look.
All of this is new equipment.
American, secondhand.
Come here, boy!
Come here, young man!
If you only knew what luck this stone gives me, young man.
Get out of my way.
The brothers decided to act fast.
For it's the first strike that kills the snake.
They went to the giant's house.
Oh, man!
There's loads of fruit!
- Really? Give me one. - Give me that one.
Give me that yellow one.
That banana right there! Give it to me!
- This one? - Yeah, that's it!
Give it.
- Give it to me! - Don't give it to him. Give it to me.
You wise guy! You gave me a rotten one.
Take that, you jerk!
What are you doing? Don't make noise. The giant will hear us.
- Then give me some fruit! - Yeah, and me too.
- That one. - Which?
That one! The red one!
- This one? - Yeah, that one.
- Mmm, that one's good. - Good, is it?
So you're just gonna sit up there in a tree
and eat pineapple, banana and the rest of it?
Hold on to him.
Wait, weren't you dead?
No, I was playing possum so he'd stop shooting at me. I'm no dummy.
The hero was worried.
He could never return to the house of the giant,
because now Venceslau knew who he was.
And Venceslau Pietro Pietra
was the giant, Piaimã, eater of men.
Macunaíma thought and thought.
Then at about 3 p.m., he had an idea.
I'd like to speak with Venceslau the giant.
Venceslau speaking.
It is? I'm a young lady, newly divorced, by the way.
I'd very much like to talk business with you.
Great, great, very nice.
Well, miss, you could come over right now.
The old Ceiuci, my wife, is out with her daughters
so we can negotiate at leisure.
- And I can come without being afraid? - Sure.
I'm not one to scare anybody.
Goodness gracious, what is that?
My collection of songbirds.
I see.
Sir, you must know that I read your interview in the paper.
And I became very interested, you know.
Because I also collect rare stones.
I'm only missing one stone.
I'm only missing one stone...
the muiraquitã.
Your tea, mademoiselle.
It's to complete my collection.
Is it true that you have one?
The muiraquitã.
Genuine.
- Won't you sell it to me? - It's not for sale.
Then lend it to me.
Do you think I'd sell the most precious stone in my collection just for a smile?
But I only wanted to...
Look here. With me, it's all or nothing.
I won't sell it, but I might give it.
It depends.
Yes.
It depends.
It depends on what, Mr. Venceslau?
What remains of our love?
What remains of those fair days?
A photo...
My goodness!
Venceslau! What books you have!
Goodness.
- Do you like them? - More or less.
I also have a great film collection.
This one is based on the book you're reading.
A loose adaptation.
- Want to see it? - Is it good?
Very good.
Take off your clothes. You'll feel more comfortable.
What for, Mr. Venceslau?
- Don't you want the muiraquitã? - I do.
Then take off your clothes first.
- You'll give it to me? - Yes.
- Then give it! - No! Take it off first!
- Do you swear? - I swear!
All right. But behind the screen.
Please go.
Go.
Over there.
- Okay, now give me the muiraquitã. - Take it off.
Take it off.
Just like that.
Take it off.
Like that.
Just like that.
There!
- Now give me the muiraquitã. - What? No, no, no.
Take it all off. That's it.
- Take this! - Keep going.
- Okay. That's everything. - No, there's more, or is it that you...
Here. That's it. Now give me.
No, I won't. Take it off!
Here. Done!
You're a boy!
Well, I'm open-minded.
Come here! This is nonsense!
I came to ask for something
because I'm very upset with someone.
- What's your name? - Macunaíma.
A name that starts with “ma”? That's bad luck.
Do you know what I want?
I really want to beat up that bastard giant, Venceslau Pietro Pietra.
I'll call his spirit to come here.
Yes, do it!
And everything we do will happen to him?
- It will happen. - It will?
- Can I beat up that goddamn giant? - Yes, you can.
Stay calm, Pietro.
You're so worked up, Pietro.
Calm down.
The guests, Pietro!
We better take off that stone. Hand me the scissors, please.
- Put it under the bandages. - All right, underneath.
Venceslau spent months in bed.
Macunaíma couldn't do a thing to get the muiraquitã,
now trapped under bandages stuck to the giant's body.
Terribly frustrated with this holding pattern,
the hero went out to take his mind off things.
It was a new holiday that the Brazilians had recently invented,
Day of the Southern Cross.
It's the traditional and sacrosanct Southern Cross,
the most marvelous symbol of our country.
It is the purpose, the goal, the destiny,
the objective and consecration
of our procession, with rosaries round our necks,
in defense of our property, and modest savings,
in defense of the lives of our children,
and the faithfulness of our wives,
against the danger of our country being invaded,
by exotic and spurious ideologies!
Against the atheism of the atheists,
against the perversion of our traditions
and bureaucratic duplicity,
which in prior governments has been the scourge of Brazil!
- That's not true! - Shut up, kid!
Gentlemen, the most sublime symbol is the Southern Cross.
No, it's not!
The most sublime symbol is the mysterious Southern Cross.
- No, it's not! - Shut up!
Pull him down from there!
No, it's not!
You tell 'em, Brother!
No, it's not!
Gentlemen, it's not at all what this fellow here just said.
Those four stars up there,
which nobody can see right now because it's daytime,
those four stars ain't got nothing to do with nothing!
Hear, hear.
Now, the most important thing
is that the scourges of Brazil
aren't any of the ones that mulatto mentioned either.
- Now that you're white, you're racist too? - Shut it.
The scourges of Brazil
are the coffee pest, the pink bollworm,
soccer, the black fly,
no-see-ums, mosquitoes, midges, carrion flies
and all those other bloodsuckers!
Bravo!
And all those wild cows running around. Because the tame cow gives milk,
but the wild one, only if she feels like it!
Bravo!
Not to mention the diseases: Erysipelas, measles, lumbago, constipation, malaria
bellyaches, toothaches, chilblains, swelling, hookworm infection,
and a giant with no character, Venceslau Pietro Pietra,
who stole my muiraquitã!
My friends,
ants aplenty and nobody's healthy, those are the ills of Brazil!
Subversive!
- Communist! - Subversive!
- You should be in jail! - Call the police!
Run!
Get out of there!
- You're under arrest. - What for?
Suspicious behavior. You were running away.
Sir, you don't understand.
It's exactly the opposite.
I was in pursuit. It was a guinea pig that was on the run.
- What? A guinea pig? - Yeah, a guinea pig.
Didn't you guys see it?
The guinea pig came running this way from Ouvidor Street.
Guinea pig, my ass. Let's lynch him!
If he says he saw a guinea pig, it's because he saw a guinea pig, end of story!
There's no guinea pig here!
What do you mean? Look at the tracks!
Guinea pigs here, at the stock exchange, right in the heart of the metropolis?
I know. Who'd have thought?
Look at these tracks! They're fresh.
Sir! Excuse me, sir. What is the exact meaning of those words?
I don't know. I'm just babbling.
Are you trying to make fools of us? Where are the guinea pig tracks?
Easy, everyone. I didn't say there are guinea pig tracks.
I said there were, but not anymore. Pardon me.
Not so fast!
Here we are killing ourselves to make a living
and then along comes some bozo breaking up our work day
just to track down some guinea pig, and then there's no guinea pig! What the hell?
No, no. First of all,
I didn't ask anyone to go looking for guinea pig tracks.
I just asked these two, Jiguê and Maanape.
- Second of all, who's the bozo here? - You are!
No, I'm not. You've got it wrong.
And another thing, I ain't scared of one, 100 or 10,000 of you.
I've just about had it so you better watch out!
Let's lynch him!
Okay, here's the deal. Lynch these two. I'm outta here.
Lynch them! Lynch them!
- Lynch them! - Wait a minute.
Here we are, my little sweetheart, you'll feel better in no time.
Nothing like a hot footbath to cure a cold.
Aww, my little darling, my poor little baby.
Just look at that! You slept with your clothes on?
My poor little baby! You were cold, weren't you?
You should have called me, poor baby.
Now, just put your little toes here in the water.
Careful, it's hot.
Just like that.
Now the other little toes.
That's right, my love. That feels better, doesn't it?
You should have listened to my advice,
instead of roaming around with your brothers.
Aw, you're such a cutie pie.
Ooh, it's hot, but it feels so good!
Oh, my love.
Leave me alone!
Listen, you just don't get it.
When a white man runs, he's a champion.
But when a black man runs, he's a thief.
You were running, the crowd went after you,
and you spent the night in jail. Well done.
Listen here, you crackpot, old-timers belong at home.
- You had no business out in the streets. - Go to hell!
You first, grandpa.
You should be in the cemetery already.
What's with the long faces, guys? It's bad for your health.
What exactly did you say you saw right in the heart of the metropolis?
- The heart of what? - Don't play dumb!
What did you tell people you saw in the street yesterday afternoon?
- Yeah! - A guinea pig.
A guinea pig, my ass! You know very well there wasn't no guinea pig!
I lied.
And why did you lie, everybody's sweetheart?
I didn't mean to.
I started telling what had happened, and before I knew it, I was already lying.
Macunaíma recovered from his cold,
but he still lacked the courage to confront the giant in person.
To pass the time, he sat in the park killing ants.
Good morning, my friend. How's it going? Fine, thank you very much.
I'll sell you my duck if you like.
- Why would I want that stinky thing? - Yes, it does stink.
But it's worth it.
When he does his business, money comes out.
I'll give you a good price.
Stop pulling my leg. Who ever saw a duck like that?
Hold out your hand.
Hold out your hand!
Oh, man!
Money!
You see? Save it up, and you'll be filthy rich.
- I'll give you a good price. - How much?
400 contos.
400 contos?
Well, then I can't. I've only got 30,000.
Okay then, because I like you, I'll do it for 30.
Five, ten, 15, 20, 25, 30.
Give it here. Thank you.
Any time. See you later!
Thank you, my boy.
Now it's mine.
- What's the matter? - He stole my money.
- And you didn't do anything? - No.
Got any left?
- Just a little. - Yeah? Give it here.
Take that! That'll teach you to be an idiot!
He who has navigated waterfalls fears not the torments of hell!
Good afternoon, miss.
Is Venceslau at home?
No, Venceslau went to Europe to recover from a beating.
The only ones here are Mrs. Ceiuci,
with the little daughter and the big one.
Listen, would you happen to know
if he took to Europe a muiraquitã stone hanging from his neck?
I don't know.
But if you like, you can stay in my room until night falls.
Then you can check Mrs. Ceiuci's safe once she's asleep.
Funny, this room of yours.
Yeah, it's all right.
What's your name?
It's...
Jiguê.
You were so distracted.
I've got a lot on my mind, girl, lots of responsibilities.
Good evening, ma'am.
You know, I was just trying to lure one of those red-winged tinamous
and the bird came in here.
What's this, Mother?
Look at the duck I've caught. Doesn't he look tasty?
Mmm, really good.
Don't be a sissy. Let's take him to the kitchen.
- You hurt me, ma'am. - Hurry up!
No, ma'am.
Slow down! It really hurts!
Mother, what are you two gonna have for dinner?
This duck that we caught. Come give me a hand.
You pluck him while we make the sauce.
What a beauty! Where'd you catch him?
We caught him with the net.
Put some salt in the pot!
- Look at that... - Quiet!
You know...
Now, let's see here.
I've had nothing to do for so long. That's why I'll be nice to you today.
I'm going to tell you two riddles.
If you get the answers right, I'll let you escape to my room, okay?
Tell me this. Where is a woman's hair the kinkiest?
- In Africa. - Right!
Now for a harder one.
Tell me this.
Brother, now let us do as God intends,
put hair against hair and leave the bald one within.
You really are shameless, aren't you?
Not at all. it's the eye. When we sleep, our lashes touch.
So that's it!
You got it wrong. But I'll take you to my room anyway, okay?
- Come with me! - Mother, Mother!
Daughter!
You devil! Daughter!
Daughter, give me back my duck or I'll throw you out for good!
Quick, before she breaks down the door.
Quick what?
Sorry, but I can't do it so fast. I get nervous. Maybe some other time.
Open this door, Daughter!
Goodness, you lost your pants?
No.
I was swindled by a salesman in the Praça da República.
And I lost all our money. Thirty contos.
Goddamn it!
- Jiguê hasn't come home yet? - No!
- Think he might have any money? - No, he's broke too.
You don't even know the worst of it.
The giant went off to Europe,
no one knows when he'll return and he's got the muiraquitã.
So now what?
Now I don't know.
Of course. You just sat there twiddling your thumbs.
Did you think the giant was going to wait for you?
God gives nuts to those with no teeth.
Hi, there.
This is Suzy.
Our hammock is over there.
Get undressed and lie down. I'll be right there.
I'll get it.
- I've got it! - What?
I've got the solution to your problem!
You pretend to be an artist,
get a government grant and go to Europe too.
Okay.
Who knows?
Jeez, turn out the lights!
Take this pill.
- What if it doesn't work? - Wanna bet?
Mother always said, “Eat bullshit, but don't bet on it.”
At the government hut,
they informed him that they were already sponsoring
more than a thousand artists in Europe,
and plus there were over a thousand on the waiting list,
so that, our hero would only be able to go when pigs fly or Hell freezes over.
Morning, pops! How's it going?
So-so, kid.
- How's the family? - Same as always.
Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer?
Keep staring, and I'm gonna have to charge admission.
What are you doing down there?
- I'm busting my nuts so I can eat. - Get outta here!
Look, kid. If you don't believe me, why ask?
- Are they tasty? - Try some.
Mmm, that is good.
- Got any more? - All gone. I only had two.
But if mine were that tasty, how do you think yours will be?
Eat 'em up, kid.
Doesn't it hurt?
Actually, it feels good.
Think you're brave enough?
Watch this.
Sic transit...
Feeling better, sweetheart?
May God help him recover.
A blow like that is very dangerous.
It could kill, or worse, if you survive.
Have you noticed if his voice got higher?
What's the matter?
It's better to switch...
Let Suzy do the massage.
And I'll show her another one.
You guys can wait outside, okay?
- That's funny. My elbow's hurting. - Could it be?
Macunaíma, can we come in?
Just a second!
His voice got lower.
- See anything? -It's covered.
Macunaíma, open up!
Open this door!
Macunaíma, open up!
Okay! Come on in.
Sensational! I'm cured!
Move over.
You're all better now?
Man, that massage worked wonders.
Jiguê and Maanape decided that the hero really had no character.
He had sworn on their mother that he wouldn't even look at Suzy.
As a result, Jiguê sent Suzy away
and our hero became so sorrowful and lamented so much
that to cheer him up, his brothers took him to visit the city's leper colony.
A letter from the giant!
“Having just returned from Europe, France and Bahia...
where he went to recover from a beating,
he knows not from whom, but has his suspicions,
the giant Venceslau Pietro Pietra invites Mr. Macunaíma, alone,
to a feijoada banquet to celebrate the marriage of the giant's daughter.”
Don't go, Brother. The giant will eat you.
Gotta put your money where your mouth is. Call a cab.
Hey, buddy. I can't pay, but here's some advice worth its weight in gold.
In this world, there are three bars that bring about the downfall of man:
sandbars, gold bars, and bars where the women don't put out!
Come on in, son! Let's not stand on ceremony.
I'll introduce you to my daughter. Let's pretend you don't know her.
She got married today!
She was getting a bit too friendly, so we had to find a husband for her.
Don't do that, my fine fellow.
Be a good boy and I'll lend you the muiraquitã, okay?
Will you really, Venceslau?
Good grief, son. You have no idea what luck it's brought me.
Thanks to that stone, I've earned more than a thousand million this year.
Stop it! Don't do that, my distinguished guest!
Don't make a fuss, everyone's waiting for you to have the feijoada feast.
Tomorrow at this time,
ping, ping, ping!
And me with your mother, boom, boom, boom!
Your attention, please!
Here's the spin!
Dog number five! Who is it, Daughter?
Mr. Carlito Chaves.
Number nine! Snake!
Mrs. Elizabeth Neves!
Here, get on this swing. You'll see what fun it is.
I don't want to, Venceslau.
- I'm feeling lazy. - Go on and swing. it's great fun.
I don't even know how to swing. You go first, show me how it's done.
Me? No, you go. It's as easy as drinking water.
Get on, I'll push you.
That's enough. Thanks.
Keep swinging!
If only my father and mother were here,
I wouldn't be suffering in the hands of this devil!
Keep swinging!
Now I'll get an arrow and...
- What are you doing? - Give me that.
My muiraquitã!
So, so, so.
If I get out of this one,
I won't eat anybody anymore.
Needs salt!
So the three brothers decided to return to their native home.
They were content, but the hero was the happiest of them all,
since he felt what only heroes can feel:
an immense satisfaction.
He brought with him his most prized possessions from the city's civilization
and a young lady named Princess, who was truly elegant.
Ants aplenty and nobody's healthy, those are the ills of Brazil!
Let's go, Princess.
Brother, let us go
To the banks of the Uraricoera
Brother, let us go
To the banks of the Uraricoera
Taperá tapejara, caboré
Arapaçu paçoca, cabora
Taperá tapejara, caboré
Arapaçu paçoca, cabora
Brother, let us go To the banks of the Uraricoera
Write this down, Princess:
A bridge must be built here to improve the lives of the people of Goiás.
Taperá tapejara, caboré
Arapaçu paçoca, cabora
Taperá tapejara, caboré
Arapaçu paçoca, cabora
Brother, let us go
To the banks of the Uraricoera
As night fell, the hero's lips trembled with emotion.
He was longing for Ci.
He who is far from his loves, suffers terrible torments.
Ah, Ci, you unforgettable she-devil!
You're up there roaming around in the heavens...
beautifully adorned, free from the ants...
playing with God knows who.
Rudá! Rudá!
God of love in the heavens who sends the rains...
make it so that all the lovers my beloved may find
are impotent!
Awake in that she-devil longing for her devil.
Make her remember me...
tomorrow...
when the Sun sets in the west.
Finally, everything was becoming more and more familiar.
A gentle hill came into view in a place called Pai da Tocandeira,
and just beyond the tapir's tracks,
the old field could be seen, now overgrown,
and the old straw hut, fallen into disrepair.
The others went to work to have something to eat.
Maanape went to fish in the river, but the fish didn't even nibble.
Princess went out to the field.
There wasn't a single ear of corn and not one manioc root in the ground.
Jiguê, who was very brave went off to hunt in the woods,
but he didn't even spot any birds.
When they came back...
- What is it? - I bet you were sleeping.
No, I wasn't.
I was trying to lure one of those red-winged tinamous,
but you made noise and that was that.
The bird got away.
Liar! Princess, you're the witness.
Everyone went off to work. The only one who didn't lift a finger was your man,
who besides sleeping all day long, makes things harder for us.
He's lying, Princess.
I...
- ...caught a deer. - Where is it?
I was walking down this trail when I came across his tracks.
It wasn't a brocket deer, just a regular forest deer.
I crouched down and started following the tracks,
examining them.
Then all of a sudden
my head bumped into something soft.
It was hilarious. Guess what it was!
It was the deer's ass, can you believe it?
Then he asked me, “What the heck are you doing back there, cousin?”
“Looking for you,” I said, and I went...
I killed that brocket deer!
Where is he?
I ate him.
I was so hungry I ate him up, tripe and all.
I even brought back a piece for you, but...
then I slipped while crossing the creek, and went tumbling.
And the meat went flying and landed right on an anthill.
And the whole thing was covered in ants.
You went hunting?
Well, yeah, I did.
Look me right in the eye.
If it's true, you won't blink.
If it's a lie, you'll blink.
It's a lie!
Well, now that I don't hunt, I won't fish either.
Is that so?
Help me, Brother.
Princess, let's go play.
When I wanted to, you didn't.
Now go play with yourself.
You reap what you sow, as we know.
Opportunity makes a thief of us all.
When the going gets tough, the tough shit on you.
The following day, when the hero awoke trembling with fever,
he saw that no one was left in the ruined hut.
He'd been left as a cadaver with no one to mourn him, in total abandonment.
Ah, feeling lazy.
The hero now spent his days in the hammock hanging from two cashew tree stumps.
He slept fitfully and ate cashews.
He was awfully fed up because he didn't comprehend the silence.
Then one day, a talking parrot showed up and kept the hero company.
Macunaíma, to pass the time,
told the parrot about the famous events that had befallen him since childhood.
I was in the pot and that mother wanted to eat me.
But then she told her daughter to take off my clothes.
As she was taking them off, she took the opportunity to feel me up.
She was grabbing me all over.
She really wanted to eat me.
So then I escaped with the daughter and got into the bathtub.
We were in the tub, and the mother was pounding.
“Open this door or I'll break it down!”
I said, “Shh, be quiet. She's about to break in.”
“No, she isn't. You'll see.” And we hid.
But we could hear her.
“Open this door!”
We stayed in there for so long.
It was a blast.
The hero boasted of all those glorious times past.
One day, as the month of January arrived,
Macunaíma woke up late to the ominous cries of a cuckoo bird.
The heat was still and sweltering,
and the hero felt a new desire in his muscles,
stirring for the first time.
He remembered that he hadn't played in so long.
Come, parrot. Come on.
Come on.
They say that cold water gets rid of desire.
This beautiful woman was no woman at all.
She was Uiara, eater of men.
Since she only showed herself from the front
and backed away without turning,
Macunaíma couldn't see the hole in the nape of her neck
through which the treacherous creature breathed.
Miss.
Glory to the men who raise up the nation
Our beloved nation, Brazil
Since the times of Pedro Cabral
Who called this land glorious One fateful day in April
With the voice of the raging waterfalls
Of the winds and the oceans Rippling in the blue
Glory to those men, heroes of our country
The fortunate land of the Southern Cross
Glory to those men, heroes of our country
The fortunate land of the Southern Cross
Even as the land first appeared
Shimmering green and gold over the sea
This land of Brazil which came to light
Was the native home to noble heroes
Even as the land first appeared
Shimmering green and gold over the sea
This land of Brazil which came to light
Was the native home to noble heroes
Macunaíma was restored from the original image and sound negatives.
Certain missing frames came from a duplicate negative
made in France, in 1999.
The original film sync was retained.
Digital 2K restoration was completed in São Paulo, in June, 2004.