Original subtitles

NORTHEAST COOPERATIVE

BASED ON THE WORK OF ARIANO SUASSUNA

I'm going to tell you the frightening, amusing, tragic,

unimaginable life, passion and death of João Grilo.

From the disastrous adventure he had when he crossed paths,

to his bad luck, with the heartless cangaceiros,

following his epic judgment in heaven,

the terrible and shocking fright he got when he saw the Devil,

his countless tricks and plots he used to confuse Satan,

and all that culminating in his spectacular resurrection,

by the grace and miracle of Our Lady,

in a string of non-stop events that leave no one to rest.

THE ROGUE'S TRIAL

This story, undoubtedly true,

was composed in poetic rhymes by Chicó Furiba,

the one speaking to you.

It was right in front of the church "Our Lady of Mercy",

that the so-called João Grilo,

with suicidal tendencies, stirred trouble with the gunslingers.

He ended up losing his own life.

Oh my God, my poor João Grilo is going to die!

Cut the crap, Chicó,

acting like you've never seen a man die.

It's been about 20 years...

and the mark is still there.

Notice the red stain on the ground as proof.

There's no soap or brush that could wash the blood away.

And as soon as João left, the land was covered with a veil.

His soul, invisible as it is, arrived at the Pearly Gates,

wearing the sad shroud of someone with an impending trial.

Christ was the judge.

And the Devil, as the prosecutor, accuses Grilo, saying:

"Your life was a horror.

Here, at your trial, you will be the loser."

Then João said: "I'm screwed right off the bat".

But then he got the best idea of his entire life.

-He begged Our Lady... -Mother of God of Nazareth!

The so-called Our Lady of Mercy.

I'll see what I can do.

João was poor like us, my son.

And he had to endure the greatest hardships,

in a land as dry and poor as ours.

And Christ, who wasn't a fool, heard his mother right away.

Please, my son, give him another chance.

João resurrected, but vanished.

No one says when he will be back.

But he does return!

Virgin Mary, help me, Our Lady!

My verses now come to a close, With a rhyme as true as prose.

And each time I recite one out, ten grand fills my pouch, no doubt.

Today, five will do just fine. A gentle soul I may not find.

Immaterial being, who art thou?

Creature of the deep! Hast thou come for good or ill?

Art thou of blood, flesh, or ectoplasmic matter?

I am what I am.

Are you João Grilo? Yes?

The messenger of Heaven and Hell,

sent to reap the sinful souls and the slowpokes!

And for exactly that, I shall take thee!

I'll stop, I'll quit, I'll change!

I will never sin again, O Lord sent!

It is so cold out there, Chicó!

I promise to pray nine novenas for your soul.

I'd rather have a plate of cuscuz with milk.

Wait a second, do souls eat food?

If I were dead, my stomach wouldn't be growling like this.

Are you João Grilo?

You've already asked that, Chicó.

But I asked a dead man. Now I'm asking a living one.

It's me, in flesh and blood, and with a tuft of hair left.

-You look different. -I look just like myself.

The same, yet different at the same time.

Do you think you haven't aged at all?

I have. But I am used to my ugly face.

Come on now, give me a hug, man.

Let's skip this part and get straight to the point,

which smells great in that pot.

It can only be you, João Grilo! There is no other!

Of course it's me, you dim-witted!

My friend João Grilo.

Not a day in this life have I not thought of you.

Me too, Chicó.

I have thought about you every single day.

Whenever someone told a lie, I'd remember.

If you only knew what I'm feeling right now...

I don't know about you, but I smell something burning.

Holy mercy! I forgot the pot!

It doesn't seem burnt.

But it's not. It was just the smell.

How can the smell of something burning come to you before it burns?

-Was it bad? -It was good.

-There you have it. -What you've been up to?

I stayed around here, watching the hardships of time.

Let's go on an adventure with me, Chicó?

No way! I better not to.

I smell trouble in the air. It smells like trouble brewing.

The kind that comes before it gets complicated.

Just so we later ask: Why didn't I "listen" to my nose?

The new shenanigans of João Grilo and Chicó.

-Have you thought about that? -Yes.

I've thought and already gave up. I know how it goes.

I get caught up in your smooth talk, and before I know it, I'm hooked.

What are these cans for?

This one's got tobacco, in case I wake up wanting to smoke.

-And the other one? -The other is empty,

in case I'm not feeling like it.

If Rosinha left you, what else keeps you here?

If she decides to come back one day, how will she find me?

And you think she might come back?

I think so.

But what I think the most is that I will never stop hoping.

Taperoá seems haunted.

It's been six years without rain.

The drought is claiming everything: vegetation, jobs, employment, food.

-Is it that bad? -Worse than that.

Hens are so expensive that, if nothing changes,

they won't put out eggs anymore because there's no cock to put inside.

At least while they don't die of starvation.

Worse than dying of starvation is dying from eating.

Who dies from that?

It happened to Jureminha.

Your sister?

No, it was a goat I used to own.

At that time, the drought was also terrible.

And my goat went for a whole month without food.

-A month without eating? -Or drinking.

And then I had a sparkly idea.

I'm going to make this goat unlearn eating altogether.

Every morning I took Jureminha to the dry field,

and she spent the day there.

So, why didn't you just let her starve at home?

How was she going to learn without seeing there was no food?

Hunger is "seen" with the stomach.

If you prefer, tell the story your way.

Not me. The story is yours.

-The ending is sad. -Did the goat starve to death?

No. The poor thing died of overeating.

One day, she found a pasture greener than a pool table.

Did she get fat again?

No. The innermost part of her guts welcomed the nourishment,

it passed through the pylorus,

the lung contracted, and she went belly up, João.

At least she died well-fed, right?

That's where you're mistaken.

Jureminha's downfall, rest in peace, was eating up.

She had lost the habit.

If she had held out one more day,

she might have learned to go her whole life without eating.

-Yes. -And kept walking, living, loving,

all the same.

Yes, until dying of something else.

And how did she find a green pasture in the middle of this drought?

I dunno, but that's how it went down.

With all due respect,

there's a word on the street that I killed you.

If it was, nobody told me.

This is Mr. Joaquin,

the cangaceiro who shot you, remember?

I am not a fan of killing.

But who made up the story that the harmonica was miraculous?

I came to find out if you had come back to life.

Are you saying I'm a liar, sir?

But you are a poet.

In your stories, the truth ends but you move on.

Sometimes the truth doesn't even begin.

But one thing is certain: you're alive.

And that's one less death on my count.

Praise be Our Lady,

who turned the dead back to life, and a murderer back to innocence!

I can't believe they ended up falling for your lie.

Show me a single lie in my story, just one.

One, that I've never died. Two, that I've never returned from death.

-So didn't you take a bullet? -I did.

-And didn't you fall flat right here? -I did.

-And didn't you wake up just fine? -I did.

What was that?

Swooning! The bullet just grazed me.

I saw the wound, then I fainted out of fear.

That was a miracle, João. Swooning is different.

It is when you pass out and wake up quickly.

I know because I live in fear. I am, with great pride,

the biggest coward out there, and I keep swooning.

You spent some time dead in heaven.

You were on trial.

-If it wasn't for our Holy Mary... -And why don't I remember any of this?

Because those who return from the Other Side

forget everything they experienced there,

so they don't go around spilling the secrets of eternity.

How do you know that?

How can you not know, João? Everyone knows.

How so, Chicó? If nobody remembers anything.

So you're expecting miracles to come with an explanation now?

In heaven, in heaven

With my Mother I shall be...

-Is today a saint's day? -It's because of your return.

And when did I become a saint?

They came to praise Our Lady for your resurrection.

But since you say the story I tell is a lie,

go and tell the people the truth.

Light, Our Lady of Candles

Guardian of the paths I tread

Clear the sands from my eyes

Remove the pain from each thorn

Weave the lines of a gentle rhyme

Shine upon your crown divine

I come to plead O Queen of grace

I am a comfort to all A solace of the mourners

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady

João Grilo, since you've been to heaven, tell me where God lives.

You tell me where He does not.

João Grilo, how many stars are there in the sky?

There are 9,873,000 million.

Golly! How do you know that?

If you don't believe me, count them yourself.

Tell me, João Grilo, what's the secret of life?

I can't tell because it's a secret.

João!

I'm terrified of dying.

Don't you worry!

As long as you're alive, your death is not a thing.

And when it comes, you won't be alive to worry!

Will there be water for everybody?

For everybody? Yes...

God provides!

What's all this fuss?

It's the city council's water truck.

Water from where?

The Town Hall buys it from Colonel Ernani.

And how much does he sell it for?

He gives it for free so people vote for the chosen candidate.

And who is this chosen candidate?

-Cel. Ernani himself. -Cel. Ernani himself.

-Is he trading water for votes? -Better than giving it for free.

Locals pay taxes and the Town Hall buys water from the colonel.

Then they distribute the water, saying the colonel donated it?

To worsen, that well owned by the colonel,

he stole it from neighboring farms to his land.

-He drove them off the land? -Didn't even need to.

The well was located on the border of the farm.

Then the colonel pushed the fence by force,

until the well becomes part of his own land.

So there might still be water on that family's land.

Not really. They even skedaddled, as it was the only water well.

It doesn't hurt to look for.

Good luck! To the colonel's lands, count me out.

Can you imagine? A water well to call our very own.

Water for the fruit garden. Fruit and water to make juice.

Water for bathing, while drinking fruit juice.

Water, Chicó!

I could even go with you.

The problem is that the colonel's farm is out in the boonies!

Have you gone mad?

It's eight leagues! We won't get there till tomorrow.

-We aren't going on foot. -Are you thinking of hitching a ride?

Indeed!

Are you still there?

A friend is something to keep...

-We're too old for this. -Speak for yourself, my son.

I drink from the fountain of youth.

...Within the heart...

I'm a spring chicken!

...That was the song about

Which I heard in America

But the singer wept

As he saw his friend leave

But the one who stayed Lost himself in thoughts

With his song That the other remembered...

Towards the lands of the colonel

is quite different from "beside the colonel's well."

Didn't you study Geography, man?

Is it my fault if the water flows right here,

under my feet, and right beside the colonel's well?

This lad thinks he knows everything...

Chicó, where there's a well, there's an underground lake,

-didn't you know that? -Don't say!

-Why am I the only one digging? -Someone needs to start.

So it's time for you to continue.

I found where the water was.

-Where is it? -All you do is sleeping.

Holy Mary! It's Colonel Ernani's car.

It's hard to find a sissier guy than you. Do you have any shame?

-I do, but I am more afraid. -Cool your jets.

I don't know what's that. You're the brave one.

-Trust me. -No can do!

Or else I'll act like a clown staring at the problem itself...

Congratulations and good evening, Colonel!

Thank you!

Isn't it a pity that your evening started all wrong?

It got much better with your presence.

You gentlemen feel free to dig up all my pasture.

Sorry, boss! It's just that Chicó was very thirsty.

I thought there was water here.

I thought you were digging your own grave.

Not yet, chief Colonel.

You are chasing the water of my well...

it looks like a death wish.

With your permission, chief colonel, boss, general...

but your well is on the other side of the fence.

My land only goes up to this fence.

But my water keeps running underground.

And it keeps running on, and on... and on!

-How far does it go? -As far as it ends!

I didn't see this fence, colonel.

You didn't because it's underground, enclosing my water.

But I wouldn't advise someone to try digging

to see if they dug inside or outside.

Because if he's lucky enough to find water,

it means that he dug inside.

In that case, he had bad luck.

Luckily, we were unlucky enough not to find any water,

colonel, chief, boss, general, president of the Republic.

Keep looking and you'll be unlucky enough to find it.

-Mr. Swampy Joaquin? -Yes, sir!

Give these guys one of those good whacks,

that they'll remember it for a hundred years.

I don't like beating people up, but since I have to...

Ain't he a miracle of Our Lady of Mercy?

I don't believe in this nonsense! Just smack them down.

Well, you should, Colonel.

Do you want to teach me religion now?

Mr. Joaquin is actually talking about politics.

He can wipe the floor with me,

but my vote will always remain yours.

But these ignorant people who think I am blessed by Our Lady

might refrain from voting.

But don't rely too much on that.

Our Lady may rule up there.

But from my hat down, I'm in charge.

-Hey, João Grilo! -The rich only flatter the poor like me

during elections. Hi!

Does the Colonel need your vote at all?

Now that I'm famous,

he can gather a bunch of votes by being my friend.

I didn't know they had radio sets for sale in Taperoá.

They do, but only in Mr. Arlindo's store.

-Is there a radio station here? -Yes, Mr. Arlindo's station.

-What do people like to listen to? -There's only one show.

-Which is? -Mr. Arlindo's show.

For those looking for a new love or searching for a lost one,

it is now on air: "From Someone To Someone Else".

And today's first message is from someone called,

Lovesick Moth, to her Beloved Aloof.

And the song she dedicates is...

Where did you get the money to buy a radio?

Mr. Arlindo opened a credit line.

Credit is a way for a man to earn twice: selling the gadget and the interest.

I didn't buy interest. I bought a radio.

And Mr. Arlindo proposed tiny monthly installments.

The interest comes in tiny monthly installments.

Every month a little extra money.

In the end, you bought one radio, but paid for two.

Since I didn't have more money to pay for the installment,

it was just the cost of the down payment. I thought it was cheap.

Mr. Arlindo set up a music program on his own radio station.

Presented by Magazin Store.

It is so easy to pay that you buy without wanting to.

People buy the radio units from his store

to listen to the music programs created by him.

And he even takes the opportunity to advertise his store

on his music program, aired on his radio station. It's all his!

But not just the store.

He also advertises himself as the future mayor.

Is he running for mayor?

I'll modernize education, modernize health,

and modernize the modernization.

VOTE FOR ARLINDO

He's another one who would die to be my friend.

-João Grilo! -He's the Savior!

All this affection from you guys gives me luck!

João Grilo! Distinguished fellow!

-How long since I've seen you? -This is the first time.

But I've heard a lot about you. Would you like some coffee?

-What cake do you have? -Do you prefer corn or cassava?

I prefer corn. And cassava, too.

-Bye, João Grilo! -See you!

Taperoá needs a man just like you, Mr. Arlindo.

-You're just trying to please me. -Yes, that too.

But you just proved you're very smart

by guessing that I only said that to please you.

-And you're doing it again! -See that?

Taperoá needs a wise man like you.

Let's defeat the forces of stagnation.

Now, be careful. Colonel Ernani is buying a lot of votes

by giving away drinking water.

Those starving folks begging for water in a can

aren't allowed to vote.

90% are illiterate and aren't entitled to a voter's ID.

But the few poor who do vote

by far outnumber all the rich combined.

And they're the ones who decide elections.

You need to become more popular among the masses.

That's precisely why I hold the monopoly on communication

and became a radio host.

Your show is very good, but only for lovers.

The locals aren't aware.

I can't stoop to demagogic rhetoric

just to please the ignorant.

Hire another host to stoop for you, sir.

Who?

Let's think together.

Someone who speaks the language of the people and is very popular.

-Have you ever been a radio host? -A street vendor.

So you know how to amp up your voice.

I barely know the first letters of the alphabet, Doc.

But you have Our Lady on your side.

Radio is good for a change.

Also, I'll charge you less than a foreign speaker.

Good afternoon, Taperoá!

Every day, at the time of the "Hail Mary",

I'll be hosting this show.

Trust in God and pedal to the metal!

Since death is certain,

you must also hit the mark in life to balance them out.

Have faith!

Losing faith will only set me back even more.

Here's how I see it:

if I believe in eternal life and when I die there's no more life,

I lose nothing.

Now, if there is, I go to heaven because I believed!

Make a little bet on life and win without losing anything.

I don't want to give advice.

As the saying goes, free advice is worth what you pay for it.

But this one isn't even free because Mr. Arlindo is paying for it.

Have faith in the most capable! Vote for the most handsome.

Vote for the one who does the most. Have faith, it's Mr. Arlindo.

Let's see if this João Grilo is really good at resurrecting!

I'm wondering if I should rip your tongue out

or strangle you until your soul comes out from your butthole.

Mr. Arlindo didn't mention political advertising.

He just hired me for a radio program.

A program with the biggest electoral supporter in town!

The biggest electoral supporter in this town is Holy Mary.

If you team me with her, you'll have the two biggest.

Team how?

What do you do when you want to honor a saint's miracle?

A statue.

What a great idea you've come up with!

Let's make a giant statue of Our Lady with me kneeling at her feet!

And I'll end up going to heaven, right?

From all the flattering to Our Lady.

Now you just pay my share.

Do you know how to make a statue?

I'll pose as the model for it.

Since when is standing still considered work?

I'll be on my knees. You think that's easy, sir?

Get ready, we're going to be rich soon!

-With your two salaries? -No way.

If bosses paid employees well, they wouldn't be rich.

Think of a group class who aren't worth their salt.

Bosses, the worst things in the world. Now double that.

We're going to make a lot of cash with your poems.

The incredible resurrection of João Grilo by the grace and favor of Our Lady.

It will become famous throughout the region,

thanks to a giant statue of Our Lady that the colonel is going to build.

Taperoá will be packed with tourists.

MAGAZIN STORE

I'm going to tell you the frightening, amusing, tragic,

unimaginable life, passion and death of João Grilo.

From the disastrous adventure he had when he crosses paths,

to his bad luck, with the heartless cangaceiros,

following his epic judgment in heaven,

the terrible and shocking fright he got when he saw the Devil,

his countless tricks and plots he used to confuse Satan,

and all that culminating in his spectacular resurrection,

by the grace and miracle of...

Our Holy Lady...

In a string of non-stop events that leave no one to rest.

God, hold me now I'm about to fall in love...

I can't believe what I'm seeing.

Buses? Tourists? Gas stations?

...As if, bewildered One unlearns how to walk...

Where's the purity?

The sertão is becoming corrupted.

When I left here, it was all real.

People used to ride horses. It was all so primitive, so beautiful.

Don't you think so?

I prefer buses because they're much softer.

Don't let me down.

Don't tell me you're not authentic. Are you authentic, sir?

Authenticity is not an attribute I have. But I do have asthma.

From your answer, it's clear that you are authentic.

Are you from the capital, ma'am?

How exactly did you guess?

The same way one guesses a little bird.

-Look, a Seriema! -Where?

The Yellow Cardinal.

The Blue Flinch!

-The Bearded Tachuri! -Where?

Look at the lady who came from the capital.

Oh, I can't believe you're a poet.

I am a lover of folk art. My roots are here!

Clarabela?

I'm Colonel Ernani's daughter.

-At your service. -Lady Clarabela?

Do you remember me?

Very well. You were so beautiful...

I "was"?

No! You were!

Right now, "beautiful" is an understatement.

I am delighted.

How much is it?

It is brand new. One is 2, three are 4, three are 5.

Six I don't know. Never sold that many.

-I'll take it. -One?

All of them. Don't worry, deliver them to my farm.

Now I'm sure that I came here to stay.

This is the best state to be in

When the one who loves you Comes to see you...

Daddy, such a long time!

I almost didn't recognize you with all that war paint on.

Keep a distance, don't ruin my makeup.

Look at you, more decorated than a Christmas tree.

Did you like it?

It's by a famous designer. It's called Rain in the Sertão.

Oh, I wish...

Daddy, I've missed the sertão so much!

Hot like the Devil left the oven on.

The call of the ground doves!

A stench of rotting flesh.

And this pure life!

The crop fields drying up...

Renewed life.

The cattle are dying, girl!

This is soul-cleansing!

If you only had any water...

Dad, as the poet says, "the sertão is inside us".

The sertão is the end of the world. I bet you won't last a month.

How materialistic you are,

I don't know how you have such a spiritual daughter as me.

Lady Clarabela bought so many statues, so many of them...

that will take me more than half an hour wrapping them.

I don't know what your secret is for attracting so many ladies.

I got no dough, but I am well-versed in psychology.

A man and a woman are a scale. It's a matter of humanity,

I know that because I have lots of experience.

You're poor, Chicó.

You shouldn't mess with a rich man's daughter.

I have three weaknesses in my life:

laziness, poetry, and women.

Remember what happened with Dona Rosinha's father.

You almost got skinned alive.

Yes, but in the end, I married Rosinha and my skin is still intact.

Not for long. Soon, Colonel Ernani will skin you alive

when he discovers your meddling with his daughter.

Lady Clarabela is full of quirks.

She called me authentic,

rustic, bureaucratic, cozy.

And a bunch of other difficult names.

She's well-versed, with a wide vocabulary.

-To each their own. -Not at all.

I immediately said, Je t'aime. She went all soft.

-"Je t'aime"? -Yes. It's "beautiful" in Japanese.

It's difficult, but I learned it.

You should stay in your lane. A person's purpose is set from birth.

Not at all. A person can change even before being born.

What are you talking about?

Didn't you study Biology? I can prove what I say.

No need.

You're going to say it's a lie, but the story is true.

In the mother's womb,

every male was once female, and every female was once male.

-How can you know that? -I remember when I was there.

In your mother's womb?

Why? Is it forbidden?

No. Go on.

Before I was born, I was a pretty little girl.

It turns out that my mother already had a bunch of daughters!

All of them young ladies.

And she had a huge desire to have a boy.

When she found out it was another girl...

Picture a spitting-fire enraged woman.

Then she remembered the power of the mind.

I know this because I'm a mind reader too.

She set her mind on manly things:

dirty underwear, shaving razors, liquor breath, cigarette smell,

hairy chest.

And, at the last minute, I flipped the script.

Mommy!

And how did your mother know you were going to be a girl?

I dunno, but that's how it went down.

You really like clay figurines, huh?

I'm a lover of the arts. A collector.

An art dealer.

What a damn long-stemmed pipe from hell!

The smoke comes cold to your mouth, right?

Such purity!

Now I can die

and tell everyone I've seen a long-stemmed pipe.

That's why I like people.

Locals are so primitive, so pure, so naive, so rustic,

so charmingly anachronistic.

You must be very smart, because you use such difficult words

that it's overwhelming.

You are the smart one. Your poetry is beautiful.

-Do you think so? -So much!

Well, I'm thinking of writing a funny one.

It's the story of a cat that gives birth to a dog.

When it gives birth, instead of a kitten, it's a puppy.

Imagine the cat's fury?

What vibrant creativity, "Chino"...

It's Chicó.

What a cute name. Come here!

Come, Chicó. Let me give you a massage.

What witchery is this?

Let me show you: lie down here,

-and I come from behind. -From behind...

Then I touch you very softly, like kneading dough.

Then I please, I rub, I soften!

I think I'm getting now.

Ma'am, do not tease me.

If I wanted to make sweet love with you, could I?

You're so white and smooth like cassava skin...

Then help yourself, Chicó,

because I want to devour the forbidden fruit to its core.

Holy mercy!

Now we're screwed up!

Run! My father will beat you to death.

If I don't die from a heart attack!

Get in that barrel, man.

Mommy...

-Come on, Swampy Joaquin! -Right now, sir.

-Take that barrel to Armadillo Ranch. -Yes, sir!

What a sissy boy!

-Take it away? -I told you I was going to sell it!

-How much did they offer? -Five grand.

I found a better buyer.

-Who? -Come out here, Chicó.

A superb afternoon to everyone!

This wretch doesn't have a dime to buy a rat.

But with the arrival of tourists, his life improved a lot.

How much are you offering?

Yeah, I was thinking of...

-Twelve grand. -Twelve grand?

Sir, funny how you walk around and talk to everyone,

but managed to find a buyer worse than mine.

-Swampy Joaquin? -Yes, sir?

Help carry this barrel so this guy hit the road in a jiffy.

Hold on, I'm not going to deliver the goods all filthy like this.

-Mr. Swampy Joaquin! -Sir!

Do your job, but keep an eye on these two.

Don't worry, Colonel.

Look closely. It's all crusted inside.

There, look. It's really dirty.

-Here? -There, that's it.

A little lower. Go down a bit more, like that.

-Here? -Yes, right there. Yes, exactly.

There!

There, boy! Focus!

-Where? -In that spot right there...

I'm going to tell you an undoubtedly true story!

The life, passion and death of João Grilo.

His countless tricks and plots he used to confuse the Devil,

and his spectacular resurrection, by the grace and miracle of Our Lady.

Help me, Our Lady, Mother of God of Nazareth!

The gentle cow gives milk, the fierce gives it at her behest.

The gentle gives it calmly, the fierce may kick in jest.

Help me, Our Lady, Mother of God of Nazareth!

Your "João Grilo performance" is really impressive.

You owe me another cut, for my story being included in yours.

Really? Then you have to pay Our Lady's part too.

That's not how it works, Chicó!

If that were the case, you'd have to pay Jesus, the Devil.

For everything they've done in this story...

-So it's not needed? -No, Chicó.

They only charge for the sins we commit, thank God.

-Amen! -All of us!

-Together. -Praise be!

The blender is on sale!

Is it true that it grinds better than mortar and pestle?

Much better!

And for you, I'll do it in 12 monthly installments.

No, thank you.

How about a set of pans? A little stove, fridge, telephone?

I just wanted to request a song on your program,

From Someone to Another Someone.

-For when would it be? -Today.

Requesting for the same day costs two thousand bucks.

Will you request it for tomorrow as well?

It's hard for the recipient to hear it right away.

The more it plays,

the better the chance that the loved one hears it.

The law of probability. Tomorrow and today have the same price.

The day after tomorrow too. It's a total of six thousand.

Now for you, Chicó, paying upfront, a three-pack costs four.

-How much is a twelve-pack? -We don't offer a dozen.

But if you buy four packs of three,

four per pack, that's 16 thousand bucks.

But I only have four.

It's a down payment, and you pay the rest in 20x of 500

plus 3% interest, plus 2% adjustment.

But is it 20, 500, 3, or 2?

I do the math, you sign.

I prefer using my finger. It is safer.

Write your offer, then I'll make the necessary corrections.

I prefer to record using my own voice, may I?

Are you illiterate?

No, sir.

It's just that I'm a better speaker than a writer.

I dedicate this message to a certain someone,

with the name of a certain flower.

More specifically, little flower.

And I don't need to say anything else.

For when the radio waves reach your ears,

you shall know, my lady,

that this song is for you,

and that I am the one who offers it.

How are you?

I need to know about your life

Ask someone to tell me about your day

It's nightfall and I just need to know

How are you?

You who have changed my life

Reason for my peace now forgotten

I don't know if I like myself more or you...

A week later and no sign of Lady Rosinha.

Maybe she lives far away,

or couldn't come because she has commitments there.

Could she be in a place where Radio Magazin doesn't reach?

It's unlikely for someone to be listening to a radio

at the very moment of the ad.

If I had money, I would have it repeat every hour.

Until she listened to it.

...Reason for my peace now forgotten

I don't know if I like myself more or you

Come!

The desire to love you Makes me a better person

I want to wake up next to you

I need so much to make myself happy

Come!

Because time can separate us

Don't leave that much life for later

I just need to know

How are you?

Lady Rosinha.

Hi, Chicó!

Did you hear my message?

About ten times.

You didn't find a smaller car to come, did you?

I became a truck driver.

Did you like it?

With you inside, any outfit looks beautiful.

How did you manage to go so long without seeing me?

...Come!

Because time can separate us

Don't leave that much life for later

I just need to know

How are you?

After you left, I couldn't even like myself anymore.

How can I still like myself if Lady Rosinha doesn't love me anymore?

I don't love you? You didn't show up because you didn't want to.

-Show up where? -Didn't you receive my note?

I saw it, but I didn't read it.

Didn't you read it? Why not?

Because I can't read.

And why didn't you tell me this before?

I'm ashamed of not knowing.

I'll read it to you.

If you had told me that, I wouldn't have wasted so much time

thinking that you didn't want to run away with me.

Run away? Why?

"Chicó."

It starts with Chicó, your name.

It's the first thing I'll teach you.

"Chicó, my father said that if I don't leave you right now,

he'll shove your neck through your backbone

and pull your heart out through your mouth.

But if you want, we can live together, far away from here."

Such a nonsense.

Why didn't you tell me face to face, instead of writing it?

-So you'd feel free to choose. -Of course!

If I had known that, I would have faced your father!

You only say that because he's already dead.

No, ma'am! I may be illiterate, but never a chicken!

I am as firm as a nail in ironwood.

I can be broken, but...

Dear! Would you have the guts to do so?

I don't know about guts, but I would have done it anyway.

Greater than my fear of dying is the fear of losing you.

Chicó, you're the bravest chicken in the world.

...Come!

The desire to love you Makes me a better person...

Mr. Arlindo said that this year he's going to throw

the biggest patron saint festival Taperoá has ever seen.

But it must be right in front of his store.

Now he wants to own the patron saint festival, right?

That's what I told him.

If so, you must throw another one, right in front of the statue.

In front of the statue?

That's what I told him.

If so, you must throw another party, but in front of your store.

What's the budget?

Just to set up the stage, the carpenter asked 2,000.

He can go to hell! I won't pay that in a million years!

Our talk went on and on. He said he wanted to travel.

And needed to buy a horse.

Just 8,200, that's all.

It's worth the investment.

Adding the saddle, plus the harnesses,

-it will cost 8,900. -It's steep, but go on.

Plus a donkey for the employee,

two plus two, ABC...

nothing!

9,500 bucks.

9,500 smacks, that's what!

Do you want the employee to go on foot?

I want them both to go to hell.

Your project is overpriced.

I'm not even asking my cut.

Indeed! As far as I'm concerned, there won't even be a party.

Sir, are you going to let the colonel take all the votes?

These votes are costing too much.

But there's a way for you to spend only half.

How?

You guys throw the party in front of the church and split the expenses.

Amen?

How come I didn't know you couldn't read?

You used to take the shopping list and bring back every item.

During mass, you followed the prayer book word for word.

I learned it all by heart.

Just like I do with my poems.

Whoa! I thought the door would fall off!

You must be a certain someone with the name of a certain flower.

-My friends call me Lady Rosinha. -Clarabela, nice to meet you.

It's my pleasure.

Chicó must have mentioned me.

He didn't, should he have?

-Lady "Clora"! -Clara.

-"Bile"! -Bela.

-Any problem? -None that I know of.

And you, Chicó?

Any problem with Lady "Clorabile"?

When he and I first met,

he didn't mentioned he was married.

-We had been apart. -He didn't mention that either.

-But did you ask him? -Nope.

So that must be why.

I found out everything on the radio.

Now you know everything, ma'am.

And you know almost nothing, ma'am.

I'm sure Chicó will tell me.

Will he?

-Lady "Clora". -Clara.

-Lady "Clorabile". -Bela.

-Bela. She is an "otter"... -Daughter!

Daughter, yes. Colonel Ernani's.

And from the girl's prying and your awkwardness,

on that occasion she mentioned, you must have had an affair.

-What? No! -You can tell me, Chicó.

It was the massage's fault!

-There was a massage involved. -Actually, at the beginning.

It's a problem I have,

when a woman kisses my neck, it makes my legs go weak,

and I start to lie down.

Then I start kissing her neck too,

and after that it's pure agony.

Just agony.

When I realize it, we are going wild over the furniture.

It's hard not to date.

I know what it's like.

Right? Come again?

It happens to me the same way.

When a man kisses my neck...

it makes my legs go weak and I start to lie down.

-Then I start to... -Come here!

I'd rather not know the details.

So, why don't you give me a massage right now

and see for yourself what happens?

Come!

Because time can separate us

Don't leave so much life for later

I just need to know

How are you?

God help me. Where are you going?

I have to go back to the capital to conclude my drama course.

You change courses more than a monkey chances branches.

Is it my fault that Art has been calling me?

Beauty will save the world.

Rain is what will save the world.

The dry sertão is the real sertão!

What would regional theater be without the drought?

What makes your theater standing is our farming!

Without rain, our crops fail! And your theater goes down with them!

But I can't stay here forever!

Daddy, I want to leave!

I need to see my friends from the club!

Didn't you think the sertão was the best place in the world?

Lady Flower!

Finally!

Are you going to make my coffee?

What coffee, Chicó? I'm in a rush to work.

Should I wait for you for dinner?

What dinner, Chicó!

I'm going to pick up a load in Maranhão!

I won't be back until next week.

I'm sorry, buddy!

SAINT'S PEANUTS

Ladies and gentlemen,

this is the biggest patron saint party Taperoá has ever had!

Let's invite our sponsors to the stage?

Since the two have split the costs of the party,

let's call both at the same time.

Both are candidates for mayor. They deserve your vote.

-Get out of the way! -And both deserve your applause!

Colonel!

Arlindo!

This election is harder to win than trying to eat soup with a fork!

This is the good combat.

I didn't know the colonel had so many votes.

But you're going to turn it around, sir.

Put some kids on your lap, pat some heads.

Pick some clean children.

-Do you have any plans? -I have several.

Give me 1,000 bucks more... we break the tie.

I'll pay you 2,000 more to follow the plan I tell you.

I already like your plan much better than mine.

You will get up on the stage and declare your vote for me.

Listen, Mr. Arlindo,

my vote will always be yours, but the colonel can't know.

Chicó owes me more than a 100,000 bucks on credit.

If you don't support me, I will file a protest against him.

He'll go to jail and die there.

We live in a democracy. Arlindo cannot force you.

He already did, Colonel.

You will declare loud and clear your vote for me.

-Let's see what he'll do. -He will take revenge on Chicó!

And I will take revenge on you!

Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

-And vice versa! -Calm down, Chicó.

Every time you say that, we're about to get screwed.

Every time we almost get screwed, but it all ends well.

But I'm tired of this agony of being OK, being screwed.

Being OK, being screwed.

Sooner or later we'll get really screwed, João!

-João Grilo! -That one's hopeless.

Damned man! He doesn't listen to me!

I had an idea to avoid choosing either candidate.

-Then both will kill you. -Not with our plan.

-Our plan is to run away. -Since when do I run away?

-That's my expertise. -You'll stay and help me.

How?

Go into the crowd and scream my name when I do this.

-Colonel! -Arlindo!

People of Taperoá,

everybody is waiting for me to declare my vote.

But who am I to declare?

Me!

Just a poor countryman, like you all,

who barely learned the first letters of the alphabet

-to get the Voter's ID. VOTER'S ID

That is why I turn myself to God to help me choose.

And since the voice of the people is the voice of God,

you are the ones who will choose in my place.

Pay attention, my people.

The next mayor must be a God-fearing man.

It's João.

Say it louder!

João! João Grilo...

João who?

João Grilo! He's the man! That's it, guys. It's João Grilo!

João Grilo!

João Grilo!

João Grilo!

Let's get out of here.

Get out of the way!

Move!

-The folks have gone mad! -You did all this in purpose.

The statue for the saint and the radio program

launched you into the political scene and boosted your candidacy.

-No, sir. -Withdraw from the race.

They will accuse us of forcing him.

I don't need to withdraw from anything.

I just have to finish in the past position.

And leave the top spot to you, gentlemen.

You just forgot to make that deal with the population!

Now you would win even against Jesus Christ!

No! The bishop got really triggered with this tale of miracles,

and he's coming here to end this blasphemy.

João Grilo!

And all that culminating in his spectacular resurrection,

by the grace and miracle of Our Lady,

in a string of non-stop events that leave no one to rest.

Last stop, everybody.

It was right in front of the church,

"Our Lady of Mercy",

that the so-called João Grilo,

with suicidal tendencies, stirred trouble with the gunslingers.

And ended up losing his life.

Who are you?

Anthony Love,

as I am popularly known high circles of trickery

in Guanabara and surroundings.

But you were reading the verses that I wrote, so you can leave.

What? You're Serinhaém Goldfinch?

-From where? -Folks, it's Serinhaém Goldfinch!

Ask his autograph! Look here!

-Goldfinch from where? -From Serinhaém! Here, it's on the cover!

"The life, passion and death of João Grilo,

his epic judgment in heaven and his spectacular resurrection,

by the grace and miracle of Our Lady".

By Serinhaém Goldfinch, that's him!

No! I'm Chicó, born and raised here!

Who wrote and witnessed the spectacular resurrection,

by the grace and miracle of Our Lady, at the crucial moment, was me!

And not that Goldfinch guy!

And where's the proof?

Printed, published, displayed, and broadcast?

To settle who owns this story,

we must appeal to the legend.

João, there's a buffoon over there who...

-Is Anthony here? -Do you know him?

-I was the one who called him. -What for?

-João Grilo! -Hey, João Grilo!

-João Grilo! -Anthony!

Pleasure to see you again!

-Chicó, Anthony... -Love!

I just don't know why his last name is Love.

Because he's loving.

He has married more than ten times.

Well, he's going to make me starve

if he sells for half the price a copy of the saint made in Japan,

by a machine that doesn't even need to eat.

Tomorrow always comes. You can't stop progress.

-Neither my bankruptcy? -Team up and sell it together

to those who are coming and those who are leaving.

-What about stealing my verses? -Did you call me a thief?

You two are my friends. Don't fight, please.

-Too late. Is it him or me? -Either me or him.

Either way. There are only you two,

in a different order. I won't choose.

Chicó is my friend to laugh and cry with. The best one I have in this life.

Anthony Love is my business partner, which is a friend by law.

-Or despite the law! -What kind of partner? From where?

It was when I traveled to the federal capital.

Get your plastic tablecloth here!

Get your plastic tablecloth here!

Plastic tablecloth!

With me, the price is so low it's embarrassing!

When coffee splashes, it goes straight down!

It's more modern, better, and cheaper than cloth tablecloths!

Plastic tablecloth!

Anthony was my sidekick,

my partner in crime to deceive our customers.

He used to pretend I was a stranger.

He praised the merchandise highly and enticed people to buy it.

Get your plastic tablecloth here!

Plastic tablecloth!

The Pope told me to sell it cheap.

The Pope is John XXIII, but my number is 19 bucks.

-And it's top-quality material! -Indeed.

It's made of Japanese plastic, the best plastic in the world.

-Yes. -And it's such a bargain

that I'll buy three, to alternate the colors.

Anthony was as good as a theater actor.

He was ageless and shape-shifting.

I don't sleep at the wheel.

He'd become a Paulistano, a seminarian, a worker, a retired military man...

Swell!

Active duty soldier, athlete, Spaniard, humble man, and a celibate!

It's the first time I see a street vendor turn into merchandise.

I didn't call you here to sell pamphlets, Anthony.

-I have a better job for you. -What do I have to do?

Curse me as much as you can. Unleash every foul word!

I can do that for free, can I start?

You won't do, Chicó. It has to come from someone serious.

-Me? -A high-quality individual.

-That's me! -An offense from nobody means nothing.

Since when offending is profitable?

If comes from a bishop...

Who knows?

Swindler!

Right away!

With this sermon at Sunday Mass, João Grilo is done for, Your Eminence.

It's nothing but my duty to preserve the good name,

decency, honor, rectitude, integrity...

Did I say decency?

Yes, but repeating is good to make it stick, like on the radio!

This will be the bee's knees to end that yellow-belly reputation.

On the other hand,

the church is losing contributions from those members,

who are coming from all over Brazil.

Foreign people don't vote for mayor.

But the church loses income, and we lose the election to João Grilo.

So let's offer him compensation.

But, more important than material loss

is spiritual loss.

Thousands of sinners are coming to Taperoá

and converting to Christianity because of that miracle.

That's why you need to act fast, Eminence.

Otherwise, João Grilo could end up like Father Cicero,

more powerful than the church itself.

Praise be the Lord, sir.

-Here. -You too, sir.

The deal was fifty-fifty. The half of four now is one, eh?

Playing a bishop is harder.

A bishop is easy, just a cassock and sandals.

A bishop is double the risk: it's prison and hell.

Fair enough.

During the sermon, say that I lied, but don't call me a liar.

Come on, that's tomato, tomahto!

Not at all!

Everybody can lie eventually. A liar does it often.

Dear brothers,

let us listen to some words from the Bible.

THE HOLY BIBLE

"Return the Bible to the shelf after reading it."

Let's reflect on these wise words,

about the need to put things back

in their rightful places.

The dots on the I's.

The dots on the J's.

And the apostrophes on the contractions!

Hail Mary!

Today, we are going to restore the truth.

And the truth is...

this thing here

is fake!

The life, passion and death of João Grilo,

his epic judgment and his spectacular resurrection,

by the grace and miracle of Our Lady,

is a fake tale!

It's a sinful sacrilege!

Do you think Our Lady would leave Europe

to perform a miracle in Taperoá?

This is the result

of a marriage between fanaticism and ignorance!

Actually looks nicer without my face.

Haven't you guys left town yet?

We're going to stay hidden right here.

If they find out about the ruse, hell is going to break loose.

No one will think that we hid in the bishop's house,

who mopped the floor with us.

Yesterday, the winds of revolt swept through Taperoá.

The population discovered that the resurrection of João Grilo

was a hoax that he concocted to win the mayoral election.

-Holy moly! -Get out!

Holy mercy! They've found you, João, hide!

Oh, my God!

-Your Eminence! -I'm Anthony.

Bishop Anthony.

Just Anthony...

-Love... -Be mindful of your cassock, man of God!

It's divine love, my dear! Divine love!

Stop flirting with my wife, you scumbag!

Arlie?

I'm here to work as an actress on your radio.

And what character can you play?

The innocent, the funny one, or the femme fatale?

All of them.

I can be everything from a home-wrecker...

Ouch!

To the poor helpless girl,

who was abandoned,

and found herself forced to sell her own body

to provide for her children.

You're hired.

Great!

So am I going to perform a monologue with all these characters?

No need!

I was looking for an actress for a radio drama.

But you need to know if I meet all your expectations.

Of course you do.

You're the only actress in Taperoá.

It's not a sin!

It's not a sin, either.

This ruse won't last long.

Just until I lose the election.

It's all natural.

It's part of Nature and it's all natural.

The candidates may feel satisfied,

but the people will be angry with you forever.

Right, João. Are we going to hide forever?

Losing the election is just the first part of the plan.

Everybody will like us again when I pull the second trick.

Remember that time I faked my own death and you nearly freaked out...

but in fact, I had hidden a balloon under my shirt?

I hid it under my shirt!

You're not bringing up that old story again, are you?

Now we're going to do the same thing, but in front of everyone.

Imagine how beautiful that will be!

I appear, the commotion starts,

then you come out yelling:

"João Grilo, you sneaky bastard!"

João Grilo, you sneaky bastard!

Man up! Since your mother wasn't one,

get ready because I'm going to give you a proper death.

And if any yellow-belly tries to sweet-talk me,

bring it on!

Hit me with it!

I'll shoot him so violently in the noggin

that even his grandchildren will be born cross-eyed!

Go ahead and shoot!

I'll resurrect in front of everyone,

and they will believe in the miracle once again.

Am I crazy to use Our Lady again to deceive people?

-But don't you believe I resurrected? -Last time you did, João.

But they stopped believing in the miracle that you do, Chicó!

It will be a lie in favor of the truth. Madness!

A lie that will end up killing you.

Do you want to die?

And it won't be one of those silly little deaths either.

It's going to be very slowly.

They will shove little pieces of wood into your ear

and twist them inside.

Then, they'll stick in a sharp steel knife,

until it tears through your liver. Blood spilling from the guts!

And finally, they'll put six bullets right into your chest thumper.

Rest assured, my friend.

I'll handle the second pull of the trick by myself.

I can't abandon a friend in mortal danger.

All you can do for him is die, just that.

And I'll become a widow.

You know how much I love you, Lady Rosinha.

But it's totally my fault that João Grilo is in this mess.

I started this whole thing by making him famous with my verses.

Chicó...

I can't stay here and watch you die without doing anything.

-It is time to hit the road. -What's the rush?

Your mission is over.

I'm trying to get a little more leverage out of this character of mine.

It's because of these leverages that they'll discover your disguise

and arrest the sneaky bishop! Madness!

My darling, my pain, my spell!

Golly!

What are you doing getting so close to me?

My style is gripping. My grip is tight.

My tightness is urgent.

Speak from afar! Stop whispering in my ear!

I can't stay away!

You're incredibly sticky!

If my husband catches you, it'll be a hubbub from Hell!

Wow!

Do I look like I'm afraid of cuckolds?

Virgulino!

How authentic you are!

I can't leave without selling my products first!

Only if you remove the João Grilo's statues.

No one believes in that miracle.

I paid a thousand bucks. That's a lot!

-Now it's worth a total of zero. -I'll give you a hundred.

Goodbye, Anthony, and have a good trip.

Why are you paying a hundred for something that's worthless?

To salvage the little lights.

-Just that? -Just that.

Locals use them during Christmas.

Listen, João,

you know one thing that always goes next to my "pump"?

-No, what? -My rump!

I can't believe you fell for that!

-That's an old joke, João! -It's because I'm young!

You become my son-in-law and drop out from the mayoral race.

I'll drop out now, if you support me in the next elections.

I'll support you in the next mayoral election,

I'll run for governor,

-and you do the ad on your radio! -Holy cow!

Now, colonel,

what I really want is to see you, sir, spitting from above.

I'll have the road paved, from Taperoá to the state capital,

just to arrive at the palace with my car tires shiny clean.

Our family will rule Brazil, Colonel Ernani.

GOLDFINCH -Nothing compensates the fame

they took from me of having verses printed on paper.

You told the story of my death.

Now you can tell the story of my life.

What's the fun in that?

Just because you don't know what happened to me during this time.

You can start.

This ring I'm showing you folks,

came from the best costume jewelry shop in São Paulo.

Did you know that São Paulo is a production hub?

You can slam it on the ground,

it hits and bounces back without a scratch.

It's 150 bucks, folks! It's 150.

Hey! Come closer, ladies and gentlemen, come.

This is perfect as a commitment ring, engagement, marriage.

And if you're broken up, it's a chance to start all over.

My job is completely honest.

You use a lot fancy words! But what I want to know is

if you have the certificate of authenticity of that gold.

Yes sir!

Here it is, law enforcer.

Everything is in order. All good, folks.

I thought he was one of the sneaky bastards

who have been deceiving the people.

Look! It's those bastards deceiving everybody!

Look out, the Po-Po!

Get out!

Open up!

Come back here, boy!

The drought has worsened the already hard situation.

The cattle grew thin or died,

affecting both large and small landowners.

There ain't no jobs over there.

So, we look a way out in the city to provide for our family.

But we get here,

spend one, two, three days waiting, enduring hardship...

Some go to the city trying to make ends meet,

and some stay at home starving.

Our pot hasn't seen any food for three days.

There's nothing to eat.

When you plant a vegetable, if it doesn't rain, it dies.

Just like us, we die if we don't eat.

We're eating just a few beans, but what about our family at home?

They don't even have water in the pot.

Eight, ten people...

and not even some bean seeds to eat.

I left my wife resting in bed after childbirth,

and my kids suffering from illness.

They're all starving.

And I'm here looking for a way to support my children

and work in construction to feed my family,

who is falling apart.

I gathered the little money I had and bought a ticket to come here.

Golly, did you came looking for the drought, eh?

Of course not, Chicó! I came to see how you were doing.

I think I've got something in my eye.

Me too.

From this day forward, I'm the rooster of this yard.

Virgulino, when you talk like that, I melt away...

Then keep the forró going,

because I'm going to dance with that brunette in front of her husband.

You've just listened to another episode of:

The Misfortunes of a Unambitious Cuckold.

A soap opera more authentic than street food mungunzá.

And just now the election results for mayor have arrived.

Colonel Ernani licked his lips,

swept clean and was elected with 100% of the valid votes!

Nobody voted for me!

Locals can't stand the sight of you.

For now!

When we give the second pull to the trick,

-it will turn around! -It will turn against me.

Folks are mad with you now. But when you resurrect,

they'll be spitting fire against me, for shooting you.

No one will recognize you.

Because you'll wear this big hat

and perform your brave antics.

It's him!

It's João Grilo!

João Grilo, you sneaky bastard!

Killing is not my thing, but get ready, because I will.

Hail Mary!

No praying!

I want you to die before you repent of your sins,

so you can go straight to hell.

And if you ask Our Lady,

she might forgive the lies you told in her name!

João Grilo! Sneaky bastard!

Man up! Since your mother wasn't,

get ready because I'm going to give you a proper death.

And if any yellow-belly tries to sweet-talk me,

Bring it on!

Bring it on!

I'll shoot him so violently in the noggin

that even his grandchildren will be born cross-eyed!

I came here first.

Oh, please! Go ahead, be my guest.

Excuse me, Mr. Joaquin,

but I had settled to be killed by this other brave fella.

The balloon...

So you'll have to kill me first.

There's no hurry at all, sir.

If you're brave enough, shoot me in the back.

I have a message from Our Lady of Mercy to you...

-and this is how you pay me back? -Do you get it now?

Oh, dang! Run!

João!

Poor João Grilo...

My friend João.

Don't cry for me, Chicó.

Dying is only bad for those who stay behind.

No! Oh, Lord!

How can I live in this world without you?

-One day you'll see it too. -My friend.

Dying is good. I have experience.

Yes, it is, João.

Yes, it is.

The stones in heaven...

are made of cheese and sugar cane molasses.

The wells have coffee,

brewed tea,

and they are warm.

And everything else there

is in great abundance.

Yes, it is.

That's exactly how it is.

Golly! How do you know that?

Those who go there know nothing when they return...

I dunno...

But that's how it went down.

João!

My friend!

My friend!

My God, João Grilo died!

João Grilo died, Our Lady!

The smartest yellow-belly in the world

fulfilled his fate!

He met only incurable evil!

Which marks our strange destiny on Earth!

That unfathomable event

which equalizes all living beings into one single wretched herd!

Because everything that lives...

dies.

The hour of darkness has come! The hour of blood!

The hour of the bat, the frog, the black goat!

The hour of the sow,

that nurses its bats with milk from the rotten toad!

What kind of damned place is this?

It is funny how sometimes you use the exact word

without even realizing it.

This is precisely a damned place,

because it is a place of damnation.

So we are all damned!

Exactly.

You must be the one I'm thinking of...

I must be, because you've already started shaking with fear.

I'm so screwed!

But nothing is so bad that it can't get worse!

I thought it was the Devil, but it's just me.

Everyone has a Devil inside them.

And I am the Devil that lives inside you.

That's why they say the Devil isn't as ugly as he appears.

Can you imagine anything uglier than being tortured

by yourself for all eternity?

Wait up! You can't just sentence me outright like that.

Says who?

Who decides whether I go to heaven or hell

is someone far greater than you.

Nonsense!

Lord Jesus Christ, help me!

What?

Where's Jesus?

It's me.

My dear God!

It's also me.

Are you like me too?

Only during your trial.

And are you the one who sweeps the floors of heaven as well?

And you can help.

It's a good thing that you have my face.

I was developing a complex seeing myself in the Devil.

The Good is also inside you.

The Devil knew I would come this way.

And he came first to invert the signs.

That guy just wants to be God.

And don't even start thinking that you're him.

I wish!

If I were the Lord, I'd always be innocent.

But you're not.

Let's start this damned trial at once!

Not damned. You haven't won this battle yet, Beelzy.

The trial is about to begin.

João Grilo.

His christian name, João Tinóque Serra Negra Júnior.

Son of João Tinóque Serra Negra

and Maria da Paz Tinóque.

I'm glad you didn't do what I asked,

and stayed with your friend until the end.

If I could, I would suffer in your stead.

I don't want you to feel the greatest suffering of all.

The floor is now given to the prosecution.

Idolatry!

He promoted the worship of his own person,

making others believe in your resurrection.

Didn't I really resurrect?

You say that because you're here,

but when you were down there, you didn't say so.

I didn't remember. Those who return from The Other Side...

Forget everything they experienced here.

A yellow-belly's excuse is eating dirt.

You've exploited the good faith of the people of Taperoá

to make money!

It was Chicó who started all this!

Aren't you ashamed to blame your best friend?

Aren't you ashamed?

Tourists liked to hear Chicó's stories.

And if they had money,

what was the harm in taking a little as payment?

Chicó is an artist, my Lord.

His lie is called Poetry.

And yours is called...

Deception!

Chicó truly had faith.

The population of Taperoá believed in your resurrection without seeing.

Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

That's what I said to St. Thomas in the Gospel of John,

chapter 20, verses 24 to 29.

Are you a Protestant, my Lord?

-I'm a Christian. -In my hometown,

when we see a good person who knows the Bible,

chances are he's a Protestant.

VOODOO - HANGING - CAULDRON -St. Thomas

did not believe in your resurrection.

But he didn't lie by claiming he believed.

I didn't tell them that I had resurrected!

But you let them think you had.

You sinned by omission, which is a silent lie.

-Wait up, I'm going to appeal! -To whom?

-To the Lady of Mercy! -It's useless!

There can be no contradiction between His justice and Mercy.

That's true, João.

When I judge, Mercy must follow.

Well then, there's the catch!

You haven't judged me yet, my Lord!

I'm going to appeal

to the one who has the power to soften justice,

like a mother does for her children.

You're not going to do like last time!

Appealing to her was the best idea I ever had,

after a life full of good ideas.

She'll end up roasting this trial.

Every accused has the right to a defense attorney.

Help me, Our Lady, Mother of God of Nazareth!

The gentle cow gives milk, the fierce gives it at her behest.

The gentle gives it calmly, the fierce may kick in jest.

I've been a boat, I've been a ship, now I'm a dinghy.

I've been a boy, I've been a man, all that's left is to be a woman.

Help me, Our Lady, Mother of God of Nazareth!

Mother of dawn shades

Blessed mother of roses

Spinner, weaver

Flower of the sweetest fruits

Blesser, wave your veil

Every time I gaze

At the sky...

Here comes the Lady of Mercy...

Women are always meddling in everything!

That was a lack of respect.

Keep your prejudices against women to yourself.

It's even worse when she's your own mother!

Every single woman deserves respect, João.

This barn-raised didn't have a mother to learn how to behave.

His problem is that he's terrified of me.

Imagine if you were born with my face.

You, João.

What happened this time?

I died again.

Yes, I can see that.

But, son, why did you call me?

It's because he's trying to drag me to Hell.

He always wants to.

The accusations are serious.

I've heard them.

-So? -So Mary is going to represent me.

I'll see what I can do.

See?

She's a people person, salt of the earth.

Not a barn-raised. Our Lady is a person like me.

She's poor, daughter of Joachim, daughter of Anne,

married to a carpenter.

All good people.

What about me, João? Didn't you forget to include me?

That's what I say, my Lord.

The distance between us and you, Lord, is far too great.

Look, don't take this the wrong way.

Your mother is a person like me, but a very good one.

While I...

I am worthless.

Every person is worth a lot.

That's why each one of them, individually,

ends up being judged in such an important court.

I accuse João Grilo of...

Neglect!

I object!

It wasn't to exploit

that João Grilo let people believe in his resurrection.

João Grilo didn't want to disappoint the community,

who have faith.

Without faith, people feel fear, uncertainty.

They become paralyzed,

because faith brings hope,

joy, the desire to go on,

motivation to fight for a better life.

And with a better life, with more joy,

we are more willing to help others improve their own lives.

Faith consoles us for being born to die one day.

It makes us dream that we are immortal,

and that one day we will meet again

all the loved ones who have passed away.

How could people have faith in the resurrection of João Grilo,

if they thought that he himself didn't believe in it?

Yes, João Grilo didn't say he believed in the miracle of resurrection.

But he believed in the people's faith.

Objection.

When he realized the faith that people had in that procession,

Grilo got the idea to take advantage of the miracle.

He always sees the bad side of things.

And she only sees the good side.

Everything depends on João Grilo's true intentions.

João, in all of this,

do you think you acted for personal benefit or for the common good?

To tell the truth, Lord, I don't even know myself.

It could have been for both reasons.

Well done!

If João Grilo himself doesn't know his true intentions,

he certainly can't go to heaven!

Not to Hell either!

João knows that he doesn't know! That's something.

The Devil thinks I had evil intentions.

Our Lady thinks I had good ones.

How can I be guilty if it's a tie?

At least let him go to Purgatory!

Purgatory?

Don't do that, please! You're no fool,

but the Devil is quite the negotiator.

With these people, you ask a high price at the start,

to make an impression. Ask for Heaven right away,

so you can settle for something easier than Purgatory.

That works in the sertão. Don't you trust your lawyer anymore?

I do trust.

But this guy ends up fooling both of us.

The trial of a person sets an example for everyone,

especially for the defendant itself.

What's the use of giving a verdict based on Grilo's intentions,

if he himself doesn't know what they were?

And he'll never understand why he was guilty or not guilty.

It's too late to know.

It's the law of free will, Mother.

I cannot interfere.

He should have known his true intentions.

He doesn't know,

but you can help him find out.

How, my Mother?

Let João Grilo go back to his life.

I've seen this flick before.

This time it will be for a different reason.

It will be a test.

Make him witness people's faith again,

in the miracle of resurrection.

Give him another chance to choose what to do.

Send João Grilo back.

Do me a favor!

Not even you resurrected twice.

There's always a first time for the second one.

You, João.

Do you want to live again?

Well...

look, sir.

This world might be a bit bad, a bit crazy,

but it's so much like us. And I'm already so used to it.

I'll let you go back because my Mother asked.

...Queen, I came to plead

I am indeed, the relief for those who weep

Look at me, pray for me...

Thank you very much, my great attorney!

Until next time, João.

Don't get me wrong, ma'am, but I hope it takes a long time.

Before that...

...Our Lady...

You will forget everything divine and diabolical

that you experienced here.

Mother!

Help me, Our Lady! Have mercy!

Have mercy on João Grilo!

If you make him resurrect again, I promise...

-Don't promise! -Mercy!

Good thing I woke up.

Before you make one of those promises to the saint,

that takes us ten years to pay.

João, for the love of God,

remember that I was your friend.

Shame on you, Chicó.

A grown man like yourself, afraid of a spirit.

This is a miracle that comes quickly!

There you go with your stories again.

But even resurrecting twice, you don't believe, man?

Why can't I remember a thing?

Because those who return...

Forget everything they saw there. You've said a thousand times.

You don't remember, but I do.

-The thing is, you are unreliable, Chicó. -Unreliable?

This time people saw you die.

Great! So no one will know that I disappeared.

How will I explain that the dead man vanished?

Put a weight in the coffin and nail the lid shut!

Locals are coming to pray for your resurrection.

Weren't they all against me?

But when they killed you, you became a hero.

A hero? Of what?

People think your death was ordered,

so there'd be no risk of you running for office again.

Maybe I'm alive because they prayed for me.

They have to know I'm not dead.

Go away, João, or the people will kill you again.

I come to plead O Queen of grace

I am indeed, the relief for those who weep

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady...

It's so good up there in heaven.

Chicó knows a verse about what it's like.

Cassava isn't planted there. It simply sprouts.

And instead of cassava,

it produces clusters of biju and palm leaves of tapioca.

Corn? The cob is corn pudding...

and the tassel is popcorn.

It's so good up there that I want to go back.

And this time I'll ask Our Lady to let me stay there for good.

João?

João!

João!

The balloon,

the balloon!

Oh no! Tragedy!

João Grilo did not hold back.

He acknowledged that he resurrected.

But he ended up lying, saying that he died.

To defend himself. He doesn't intend to profit from this.

Wait and see, he'll show up claiming he resurrected for the third time.

You always see the worst in things.

And you always see the best.

I am planning to make a pamphlet

about João Grilo's second death.

His second trial in Heaven.

And his second resurrection, by the grace of Our Lady.

There will always be those who prefer the first one.

There will also be those who want to know about the second one.

At least we'll be able to pay off our debts.

If they find out about the balloon, they might kill you again.

No one can catch me. I'll only return to Taperoá to be buried.

First, I'll make sure to get you out of here alive.

With two resurrections, the town will be filled with tourists.

People have put your statue back up.

Good thing is that my statues are always kneeling,

praying to Our Lady, without me having to tire myself.

I have so much faith in Our Lady,

that even a parrot I had became a believer.

That's the parrot that knew the Holy Bible by heart, right?

Not just the Bible, but the Civil Code too.

He even got people out of jail.

Without a lawyer's degree, how's that possible?

I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask too many questions.

What happened to him?

I set him free.

He was too smart to be caged.

May Our Lady reward you, Chicó.

A year later, I was returning from a hunt,

when I heard a commotion. I thought they were tormented souls.

Fear took over me,

since there were no houses or roads around.

That's when I saw it.

It was my parrot.

Like a maestro, teaching a hymn to his relatives.

And fulfilling the promise he made to Our Lady for being freed.

For Our Lady!

Such an educated creature, the most beautiful thing.

How do you know it was the same parrot?

It had red feathers.

-You never mentioned that before. -I'm telling you now.

A beautiful love story, a crossbreed of parrot and macaw.

Parrots and macaws don't crossbreed. How did that happen, Chicó?

I dunno, but that's how it went down.

I'll be back someday.

There's no future for you here anymore, João.

I have nothing to lose, Chicó.

I don't have a house, or a change of clean clothes.

I don't have family, or even have a dog.

But I have what's most important,

everything one needs to spend a good time here on Earth.

The forgiveness of the Lady of Mercy

and a friend.

What matters is to hear The voice from the heart...

There's something in my eye.

In mine too.

Now it's in the other eye.

Here, too.

I'm crying.

Me too.

...For whatever comes

Come what may

Any day, my friend I will be back

To find you

Any day, my friend

We will meet again

For whatever comes

Come what may

Any day, my friend, I'll return

To find you

Any day, my friend

We will meet again...

"I've seen good lies. I've seen horrible lies.

I've seen lies with wings. I've seen lies with a tail.

I've seen lies about who God is.

I've seen the Devil lie.

João lied for a good cause. Who said that? Our Lady.

João didn't want to throw away the faith people have in her.

Faith nourishes one's soul, gives strength and even rejuvenates."

Anyone interested in buying my verses, the tale is quite true.

How much?

And each time I sell one out, Ten grand fills my pouch, no doubt.

Today, five will do just fine. A gentle soul I may not find.

BASED ON THE WORK OF ARIANO SUASSUNA

Light, Our Lady of Candles

Guardian of the paths I tread

Clear the sands from my eyes

Remove the pain from each thorn

Weave the lines of a gentle rhyme

Shine upon your crown divine

Mother of all that blossoms

Mystic and serene rose

The place where kindness dwells

Mitigate my pain

Come, pour over us

Your gentle breath

In vibrant voice

I come to plead O Queen of grace

I am a comfort to all A solace of the mourners

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady

Mother of dawn shades

Blessed mother of roses

Spinner, weaver

Flower of the sweetest fruits

Blesser, wave your veil

Every time I gaze

At the sky

I come to plead O Queen of grace

I am a comfort to all A solace of the mourners

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady

Look at me, pray for me

Our Lady...