The Journalist/ Photographer who follows the families story, is
a very interesting character to consider.
Dom Pedro the second was considered a very popular ruler, who's rule saw economic progress, abolition of slavery and the rise of Brazil as a emerging power, despite being rather unwilling to work[ which would be brought to naught by later governments]. The journalists’ career seems to follow the same path the republic began to take.
He describes his career as almost dead, and speaks about how people once told him he could be among Brazil's first and finest journalists. Like the republic, which was lead into rather bleak times by dictators and military rule, the journalist is forced to face questions regarding what is acceptable and what isn't.
This is quite important considering how important it is to sway public opinions in democracies. His questions about corruption, which are censored, are also very interesting. Is this supposed to hint at the increasingly capitalist system? It's important to realize how the movie manages to keep asking questions regarding modern political system without actually advocating for any political system over the other.
In regards to the other characters, all of them seem interesting and have their own goals and motivation. The wife is particularity intriguing. It's evident she does not have much of a say in the family but her motivations to stay and fight are extremely interesting.
The religious aspect of the movie is also interesting. Characters like the father and daughter who are strong and self assured in their own right don't seem to be tied down by it. It seems as though it is simply something people use for comfort. The so called apostles’ predictions are not exactly wrong. He never seems like someone you could condemn or call a mad man. He has what he feels are real causes for his actions. His death feels tragic and you actually feel the war would have ended differently if he was still around; a testament to how well his character is portrayed.
The daughter who we follow throughout the movie is a very strong and rational character and her final decision to go back and fight for the village is all the more significant for it.
However the more I try to look at the characters the more evident it becomes that the story while centered about them is by no means limited to them. The movie is, after all, about what the battle of Canudos meant, not only to the family, but also to a country and a young republic.
Dom Pedro the second was considered a very popular ruler, who's rule saw economic progress, abolition of slavery and the rise of Brazil as a emerging power, despite being rather unwilling to work[ which would be brought to naught by later governments]. The journalists’ career seems to follow the same path the republic began to take.
He describes his career as almost dead, and speaks about how people once told him he could be among Brazil's first and finest journalists. Like the republic, which was lead into rather bleak times by dictators and military rule, the journalist is forced to face questions regarding what is acceptable and what isn't.
This is quite important considering how important it is to sway public opinions in democracies. His questions about corruption, which are censored, are also very interesting. Is this supposed to hint at the increasingly capitalist system? It's important to realize how the movie manages to keep asking questions regarding modern political system without actually advocating for any political system over the other.
In regards to the other characters, all of them seem interesting and have their own goals and motivation. The wife is particularity intriguing. It's evident she does not have much of a say in the family but her motivations to stay and fight are extremely interesting.
The religious aspect of the movie is also interesting. Characters like the father and daughter who are strong and self assured in their own right don't seem to be tied down by it. It seems as though it is simply something people use for comfort. The so called apostles’ predictions are not exactly wrong. He never seems like someone you could condemn or call a mad man. He has what he feels are real causes for his actions. His death feels tragic and you actually feel the war would have ended differently if he was still around; a testament to how well his character is portrayed.
The daughter who we follow throughout the movie is a very strong and rational character and her final decision to go back and fight for the village is all the more significant for it.
However the more I try to look at the characters the more evident it becomes that the story while centered about them is by no means limited to them. The movie is, after all, about what the battle of Canudos meant, not only to the family, but also to a country and a young republic.
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