Fading pictures.

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. 

Battle of Canudos

A historical movie that portrays members of a religious group going out and setting up their own country seems rather quite usual. Usually when you have a film about down trodden people who set up their own country you'd imagine something that goes on and on about democratic values,liberty and so on.

When it comes to the celebration of democratic ideas Hollywood [or most movies from most other places for that matter] makes sure the no matter what the scenario- be it ancient Greece, a Irish/ English /Samurai rebellion you see men shouting about freedom. The idea that democracy that is the ultimate goal that can be achieved and it is the cure for all ills is an idea that you see everywhere.
I'm not suggestion democracy isn't a lovely system. What I mean to say is the movies tend to concentrate on the noble virtues and ideals pursued, while giving little to no attention to the less than exciting economic and soci-political issues that often lead to political upheavals.

What the movie does, by following a group of people who believe in the divine rule of monarchs wronged or oppressed by a republic, is bring focus to the hazier, difficult questions about modern democracies and Republics.

How can you bring democracy to a people who want a monarch? How useful are rights to petition to people who don't know how to read or write? How useful and noble are the freedoms and rights promised by a republic when you are expected to pay for it?
It is obvious a monarchy isn't the solution the few barons we see in the movie are still exploitative even though they have lost the war to the republic. What is obvious but never stated is how the supporters of the republic in the movie include the well educated urban populace. The republic doesn't seem all the loved by the common folk and does not do much to change that. The failure of the republic to serve the rural folk is what leads to the insurrection in the first place.
The ruthlessness that the general and army men regularly display in the name of the republic does nothing to help their cause.

The arguments the peasants put forth regarding their right to their property and way of life are very hard to argue with. In fact they seem more in tune with democratic ideas than the republics actions. Antonio Conselherios' speech about how the democratic ideal with everyone working for the betterment of the state can bind one in the same way slavery can, was very interesting. One could find fault with the argument, but the sentiment it represents is not something you see portrayed. The solace most movies like to find in casting the supporters of authoritarian as evil and one sided is almost impossible to find.
The journalists’ sentiments about the war being a crime are hard to argue with, the general himself seems quite unable to find a non-battle related response.

Despite the fact the movie was centered on a battle and one family's drama, the overall context about a group of people trying to fight for their religious and political values is the main attraction, one which remains true to its purpose throughout the movie.

Strange men in coats.

I think I've figured out what the man in the coat meant to the movie and the characters.
The man declares his certainty, his admiration and dedication in a very self assured manner. Even though we know he is a crazy stalker he does seem convincing for a moment. What he is actually doing is being what Antione had aspired to be earlier in the movie.

The certainty and adherence the stalker showed are what Antione wanted to feel earlier. What Christine sees as mad is what Antione wanted to become. For a romantic comedy, this seems to be taking a lot of shots at love and romance.
Our leads are not dedicated for the most part. They don't really like each other all that much. They also cheat and have a lot of confusions about what they want, which most other movies do a bad job of showing or avoid altogether.
Humor too , in most run of the mill romantic movies is made as clean and as clear cut as possible to ensure we never really see anyone do anything that the viewer can call condemn able. This is a rather strange trope considering stupid behavior and love are often said to go hand in hand.

The humor in this movie seems like what you call dark humor yet it manages to be so easily palatable, which makes this movie stand out in a genre saturated with clichés and tropes. 

Stolen kisses

A strange romantic comedy which oozes a subtle unconventional sort of humor, stolen kisses is a unique film with a very enjoyable and engaging story.

Antione the protagonists is a little hard to place at first. His military discharge, which is based on a report that says he is psychological unfit, does not seem to inaccurate when see we first see him. He doesn't seem to show a great deal of social skill, he seems to have joined the military based on a whim and idealistic notions [a hint at what's to come].
His relationship with Christine is a little strange; they seem to get along and fail to get along randomly. Neither of them seems very sure about what they want. Antione continues his odd behavior sometimes writing her letters denouncing her as a mere friend. Christine also tries to avoid him a few times preferring to so skiing with her friends.
His work as a detective is incompetent at best.Well actually I might be being too kind. He isn't very good at all and fails to realize his girlfriend is being stalked. Antiones' difficulty in fitting in is seems to be the general theme this movie peruses. Which concludes with Antione finally being able to marry Christine after he manages to reach a stage where is able to accept her and himself.

The romance part isn't quite so romantic. Antione visits a brothel before he even thinks of Christine. He often cheats on her. He does not always write her nice letters. He also seems more enamored with his clients’ wife than his girlfriend. Which he quickly forgets about. He is for the large part of the movie more concerned with his work and tactlessly leaves Christine alone.
Most of the humor isn't quite apparent and the final scene with the man in the coat still baffles me. However the movie is an excellent, interesting and funny piece worth the watch.

Promises of pastoral life

It's relatively easy to miss all the slight hints at political statements that the movie makes due to all the humor and goofiness.

The nostalgia for the soviet or communist government that the grandfather shows, when he hears the soviet anthem, and the corruption and crony capitalism that's hinted at, give the film an easily missed political undertone.
The films villain talks about how he wishes to build s world trade center in Serbia. His investors include a president who talks about the importance of Japanese tourists. He defends some of his actions speaking about his importance to the country and economy. He obviously has a lot of his political power considering he can call upon Special Forces personnel to settle his vendettas.

More importantly the film seems to be arguing for the ability of locals and farmers to continue their ways of life. The boy who travels to the city is fascinated by the city and everything he sees. Yet he is able to adapt and survive it. The quirky humorous life of the grandfather and the teacher filled with their own problems and drama also seems to be arguing for the same.

The bit with the flying man wasn't all the funny at first. By the end of the movie it became funny simply because of the repeated appearances and the fact that it became more obvious how the movie was meant to be viewed. As a simple, direct, comedy about post communist pastoral Serbian life.

Promise me this

A funny, silly, gross movie about a Serbian boy who promises his grandfather he shall return from the city with an icon of St. Nicolas, a souvenir and a wife.

With the way the story starts off, goofy characters and slapstick humor you'd expect this movie to be just another clean family comedy pandering to everybody. However the explicit and unabashed way the movie goes about making fun of everything from bestiality and sexual discovery just makes the film feel so unique and refreshing.

The films goofy/slapstick humor doesn't feel like what you'd expect when its talking about forced prostitution, corruption etc, but it works keeping the film light-hearted and consistently easy to digest. In fact the simplicity of the story makes it feel like one you'd see in a children’s' story book.

Most films about Serbia I've seen seem to be dark and gloomy, while this movie doesn't make Serbia seem like a country without problems the humor infuses a sense of optimism and self assurance that makes the problems seem irrelevant.

The characters are likable and funny, all with their own unique back stories. The music which is upbeat and light hearted is very important to setting up the tone of the movie.
Overall the film is very funny, gross and interesting piece about life in a post soviet republic.

Kizuki's sucide

Kizukis' decision to kill himself isn't very well explained. We don't see much of him, even though he is responsible for all the drama that follows. In fact from what we now of him there isn't much that would suggest he is depressed.

This ignorance about the cause for his suicide is something shared by the characters and it torments them plenty. However a little hint about what could have happened had Kizuki not killed himself is made. Nagasava is described as some one who isn't meant to or wants to be happy by Wantanabee. Much like Kizuki. In another similarity Hazumi and Nagasava also share what you could call a sexually dysfunctional relationship.
There is no certainty that Naoko wasn't devoid of any psychological problems before Kizukis sucide. Even if Kizuki had, say, gotten himself institutionalized who are we to say that this would be a futile effort just as it was with Naoko?

The scene where Wantanabee dreams [?] of the two women in his life together under a tree. is very symbolic. His only other dream- of Kizuki- was dreamt when he faced his fears/ apprehension and went to meet Naoko. The second one after he finally is able to deal with his past and becomes fully interested in Midori.

His decision to worsen the cut on his hand or to keep it around is very interesting. You don't really hear that much introspection from him at times. Since most people who cut themselves do it in order to to help feel alive, or just feel something, it isn't hard to see his confusion and apprehension about having to deal with his ever increasing list of problems.
That is what the whole film seems to be about a look back on how he managed to deal with his problems [and some of his friends didn't] and what he feels about it.