Name: São Bernardo
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1 h 16 min
Rating: 7
Cast: José Wilker, Regina Duarte, Nildo Parente

One of Paulo José's best directorial moments

This made-for-tv medium-length feature consists of the story of Paulo Honório, a simple but ambitious man who ends up transforming himself into a large farmer in the backlands of Alagoas, North-eastern Brazil. He marries Madalena to get an heir. Unable to understand the humanitarian way in which the woman sees the world, he tries to nullify her with his authoritarianism. Originally São Bernardo, is a novel written by Graciliano Ramos, published in 1934 and set in the second stage of Brazilian modernist style. It is with this novel that Ramos acquires critical recognition, and matures a drier style than that of his previous book, Angústia, (his masterpiece) which had given him more popularity.

Portuguese-language cinema, spanning Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, focuses on history, cultural identity, and the struggles of ordinary people, often framed with poetic or allegorical storytelling. In Portugal, cinema has emphasized meditative pacing and philosophical depth, reflecting on memory and tradition. In Brazil, it has often been politically charged and socially vibrant, highlighting inequality and resilience while experimenting with popular and avant-garde forms.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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Paulo Honório exposes, without masks, his excessive ambition, his arrogance and violence and the unhealthy jealousy he felt for his wife, Madalena.

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São Bernardo

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