Original subtitles

BYE BYE BRAZIL

There's Itu beans. Chicken...

Attention ladies and gentlemen.

Most honorable civilian, military and church dignitaries.

After an long absence due to obligations in Sao Paulo,

and south of the country...

we're back in this progressive town

of our beloved northeast backlands with the Rolidei Caravan.

which is proud to present you,

its great attractions:

The incredible Swallow, the Muscle King;

the international Salome, Queen of the Rhumba;

and the extraordinary and unique Gypsy Lord,

emperor of magicians and clairvoyants.

Look, the guy put an egg.

Gypsy!

Your Excellency, Mr. Mayor. Welcome, your Excellency.

Matter of fact, you should welcome me!

What I mean is welcome to another show

of the Caravana Rolidei, tonight.

Tonight?

But the spectacle Is still suitable for the whole family, like last year, is that right?

For God's sake, your Excellency, it's just the same. Exactly the same.

And tonight, only one, exclusive show.

Tonight?

Come see Swallow, the king of muscles. The strongest man in the world.

Come see Salome The Rumba Queen,

The princess of the Caribbean who was once mistress of an American President.

Come and see this international beauty

directly from the fabulous islands of the Caribbean seas.

And naturally, come and see your humble servant.

Silence!

And now...

Of an extraordinary character

in honor of the distinct crowd of this fabulous town,

I, Gypsy Lord,

Master of Dreams, shall grant the most intimate wish

of each one of us Brazilians...

Which is it? Which is it?

Abundance and progress!

To be immortal!

To be immortal!

No magician, however powerful, could or will ever find

the magic to conquer Death.

But I, Gypsy Lord, Master of clouds and time,

can work miracles with life.

I can, for example, make the dreams of all Brazilians come true.

I can make it snow in our country.

I can make it snow in Brazil.

Para Vigo me voy.

Snow!

It looks like grated coconut.

It's snowing in the backlands It's snowing in my administration!

Yes, it's snowing in the backlands...

as it does in Switzerland, in Germany, La France...

in old England.

How I miss it.

Like all of Europe and in the United States of North America.

Now, just like in any civilized country in the world,

Brazil also has snow.

That's enough!

I'm freezing.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the Caravana Rolidei is proud to present its latest sensation:

The international Salome!

The queen of the Rhumba.

Salome is pure dream!

Dream my friends!

Dream!

Dreams can only offend those who don't dream.

Love! Love as it is made only in the Caribbean, she said.

And practiced by an expert of international recognition.

There were more people last year.

Tie your heart...

with the strength of an iron cord!

Before her it beats until it rips a piece of you!

"I dive my nose into your breasts...

"In this comforting dream of mine...

"Rampaging away my fears.

What do you think?

I also have some plays here. Wanna see?

"Tropical Flame", "I'll Avenge Grandma",

"The Passion of Joan of Arc".

Did I take too long?

Not at all.

Isn't it time to go?

Go ahead. I'll be right over.

Let's get some drinks. I'm buying.

It'll be a pleasure your excellence.

It was better than last year.

Salome is just like wine.

The older she gets, the tastier she is!

We're here to serve you your excellence.

She's definitely hot.

know something your excellence?

I once knew a woman who had such a large pussy...

she could take inside a man with an umbrella... open!

The show's over. We're closed.

You speak "brazilian".

Buenas noches...

I don't want to die here, dad...

buried here, pulling out stubs from the rocks watching the river go by.

I'm gonna ask them to take me along.

To play my accordion, put up tents, anything.

I'll go with them father. Unless they don't agree.

Now I want your blessing.

I want to see the sea father.

The river isn't enough for me.

Dasdo is free to decide.

She doesn't have to go with me. She does what she thinks is best.

I want to go with you.

I want to go with you.

We don't need nobody.

I can play the accordion.

We have a record player.

Let's go.

Live music...

may be a good idea.

I can carry things, put up the tent, sell tickets, hand out flyers.

My wife is a great cook.

We won't disturb.

I can play the accordion.

Let's go accordionist.

Hop in the back.

Hello Accordionist! Play something...

Keep practicing...

because glory awaits you with the fabulous Caravana Rolidei.

- Altamira! - What's the name of the place?

Altamira!

I'll double the bet.

Altamira's in the heart of the Transamazonian highway.

All of Brazil is going there to work on the highway and then buy land.

Pineapples there are the size of a watermelon,

and the trees the size of skyscrapers.

- Come on! - No kidding.

I'm serious. Precious stones are just lying on the ground.

Amazon Forest. Never heard of it?

Sure. A bunch of jungle.

And what about the Indians?

Are there a lot of Indians there?

There was.

But people got rid of most of them.

Sometimes they were a real hassle.

So people lost their patience, hired a plane,

and dropped dynamite sticks on their villages.

They fled into the woods thinking it was the end of the world.

Last one?

Double or nothing!

Eh, man.

Where did you find such a greedy manager?

No use, he's mute.

After they built that highway, the whites took over.

Money all over the place.

They're all rich.

Living in the middle of the jungle they can't spend all that money.

I've had enough. You pay the check.

How long ago were you there?

Where?

Altamira.

Recently, when they inaugurated the road.

- Is it far? - No.

You enter through the backlands, then take the Transamazonia at Picos...

in Piaui, then straight ahead... 4 or 5 days.

That's far.

How 'bout it, accordionist?

Wanna go see the Amazon Forest?

If you want mister. Though, I'd prefer the sea first.

Yeah!

A long time since we've seen the sea.

Of course. The Rolidei Caravan wasn't made to stay in the middle of the jungle...

doing performances for a bunch of ignorant Indians.

Let's go to Maceio.

Look accordionist. The sea!

Africa's on the other side.

- How many leagues? - A lot.

Can I go wet my foot?

No! City sea is full of shit.

Extremely polluted. Look over there.

Look accordionist.

That's the real sea.

...of our beloved northeast cost...

the Caravana Rolidei!

Which has the pleasure to present its distinct audience..

its fabulous and international attractions.

Not much of a crowd...

Maybe it's procession day.

No it isn't.

No rain today, no soccer final...

And we always made good here.

Unless that fucking mayor inaugurated...

That mayor!

In the past they'd promise a bridge to get elected.

In office, they'd build one...

even if there was no river.

A good-for-nothing bridge.

Now this.

Public Television.

Faggots!

TV actors are all fags.

The church should excommunicate them.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor.

- They seem turned off. - It's no good.

Let's do the usual routine.

Attention ladies and gentlemen.

For the first time in a public square...

the extraordinary and unique Gypsy Lord,

Emperor of Magicians and Clairvoyants,

will present his fabulous act which amazed the Sao Paulo audience...

and the rest of the South.

Para Vigo Me Voy!

Let's pack it up and get out of here.

I think we didn't please them one bit.

We've been politely asked to leave this city.

No problem though.

The way things were today, nobody would come see the show tomorrow.

Don't worry, Mr. Lord,...

there are many other towns in the backlands.

How old are you?

Don't know. 18... 20...

When this gets flat...

it won't be easy to resist you.

Swallow, let's pack up and go.

Looks like these people here don't like any fun.

Wait, Swallow... don't disarm the tent yet. Wait a while.

They didn't deserve what you had to offer them, Salome

They didn't deserve to meet your pleasure cave...

your slit of dreams, your cove of love.

Let them keep their TV

while I keep the purple fig from the Queen of the Rhumba.

Stick those antennas up your ass!

"To the north, your face."

"In the middle, your navel."

"To the south, all that I like.

"My daily bread! My heaven!"

Do it good then. Like only you know how to.

"I want to die of love,

my poor little dove, caught in your velvet claws."

Accordionist!

Hey Accordionist!

Dasdo is right.

There are many other towns in these backlands.

Let's find one where TV hasn't arrived yet.

It moved!

Leave it.

But I can feel it moving.

- Is it time? - No. Not yet.

I think I'm just hungry.

Eh, Stop! Stop!

What do you think?

Looks alright.

- See any fish bones? - Fish bones?

Those TV antennas...

None. No wires either.

Looks like there's not even electricity.

Ladies and gentlemen of...

- What town is this? - How do I know?

Friend, what's the name of this fabulous town?

If I was you I'd turn that off.

Want some?

They're praying for rain.

Things are rough here. It clouds up...

but no rain falls.

Hasn't rained all year yet.

Planning on stopping here?

I don't know. Maybe.

No good today.

They'll be all night at the church. Praying and singing.

But they might show up tomorrow.

You're from around here?

I'm also passing through.

I have a business similar to yours.

Wanna see?

THE DRUNKARD

I've been all over the backlands, from Bahia to Cariri.

There was a time when Business was good.

I'd go to fairs, circuses...

church festivities...

and people would run to see the novelty.

Not anymore.

Now, only in places like this...

where there aren't even newspapers.

For the three of us.

No need. It's free today.

Here I can't even charge admission.

I let them in for food and board,

a little flour, liquor,

or even a watermelon.

That's the only way.

Thank you mister.

You're welcome my princess.

I'm not a princess.

Yes you are.

I'm leaving tomorrow,

I'm through here.

I'll make way for the Caravana Rolidei.

Do you like him?

I asked you if you like him.

We're very happy.

Salome Let's run away together, now!

What about your big-bellied wife?

I want to live with you forever.

Nothing lasts forever.

I'm taking you to my bed, but don't think you own it.

For free, I do as I please.

With luck, you'll get an audience for one or two shows here.

Then, you'll hit the road again... like I will tomorrow.

If you stay, you'll end up like one of them.

Good luck!

My name's Ze da Luz.

Tomorrow, I'm back on the road.

Maybe, we'll meet again, somewhere.

He's in there.

Para Vigo Me Voy!

The last night I spent with you

I want to forget it... forever.

I want to forget it...

for my sake.

Light enters through the seven holes of my head.

And my mystical third eye

can see what other mortals can't.

Any questions?

I, Gypsy Lord, disciple of Nostradamus and Malachias,

who predicted the death of three popes,

am here to satisfy your curiosity.

No need to ask.

Just concentrate.

Your questions will reach me by telepathy.

Telepathy!

The communication of privileged minds. As the name implies.

Let's concentrate.

Silence!

I hear somebody in the audience who wants to ask me a question.

Go on. Gypsy Lord here.

I hear your mind.

I see what you want to ask.

I see your deceased loved one.

He is right here before me.

He wants you to stop crying.

Yes... he's alright.

He misses you, but he is well.

He's in God's heaven with the angels.

Any more questions?

The land is not ours,

and it's not good, either.

We haven't had a crop in two years.

We've made vows, we've kneeled before the cross...

we've prayed to Father Cicero for rain...

Clouds have swelled...

thunder has struck...

But the rain doesn't fall.

Could God be distracted?

Or doesn't He like the people here?

My Dear Saint,

don't forsake your children.

...from hunger from thirst we will do penance on our knees.

Lights!

My family is gone.

My sons, in-laws, grandchildren...

I was left alone with my man who died last week.

Now I want to join my family.

Good Saint, tell me:

Where did they go?

How should I know?

I mean... I see them.

I see... your family.

They are many leagues way from here. There.

- Alive? - Yes...

getting used to a new life.

We get used to everything...

Where are they now, my good saint?

Wait a second...

I see them.

They're in a green valley where it rains a lot.

Where the trees are tall and the rivers big like oceans.

And the land is so rich...

that nobody needs to work.

Where old people never die...

and young people never lose their strength.

And the land is so green!

Altamira!

Where is it? Fuck.

I know I have a map...

...they gave it to me.

How can a map of Brazil disappear like this?

I found it!

What did he say?

Enter the backlands 'til Picos, in Piaui.

From there to Estreito of Maranhao.

Then to Maraba.

And Altamira!

Pineapples there are the size of watermelons...

The trees are taller than skyscrapers...

And you find precious stones lying on the ground.

Everybody's rich there, but there's nowhere to spend the money.

It's all jungle, you know.

The Amazon Forest. Never heard of it?

Enough poverty!

Hang on Dasdo. Be brave.

We're here. We'll do it.

Is this how it's done?

Here comes the little head.

The hair...

It's a fucking girl!

We'll call her Altamira.

Alright. You can call her Miranda, if you like...

but we'll baptize her Altamira.

Take your wife and your daughter and go home.

Or else, go to Brasilia.

You'll get a decent job there.

But go... at once.

Accordionist, do you know why the jungle is virgin?

Because it's full of "fruits".

On the air, the first edition of "The Messenger",

a program for the people of the hinterland.

Farmers in the Amazon need not to import barbed wire any more....

Barbed wire at a cheaper price and high quality can be found

at Alianca Industrial S.A.

An Amazonian Company, in Belem, Para.

Attention Benedito and Vitor Ferreira.

Heart exam, Mercedes, negative.

All is well.

A poisonous ray bit your friend.

It can only be healed with fresh urine.

Where did it bite you?

The ingrate. He refused treatment.

That's the tribe's chief.

He wants a lift to Altamira.

Since the whites came, my village has gone to ruin.

Now I'm going to town, to pacify the whites.

O.k, I'll take you, but there's a price.

My mother wants to go to Altamira to travel by plane.

Plane in Altamira?

This is the Amazon Forest, my friend.

How do you want to travel by plane in the middle of the jungle?

The Amazon Forest. Ever heard of it?

Are you from Brazil?

What do you mean?

I'm Cruari, the chief's mother.

My father asks if the President of Brazil is well.

How do I know?

Attention!

Altamira is in sight.

Altamira, the little princess of the Xingu.

The Xingu river.

That's the Xingu river.

Fishbones.

Attention, men wanting to work...

You who are from the South, Midwest, or even from the Northeast,

looking for chance and fortune on the Transamazonian...

don't miss this opportunity.

The floating factory.

This is a most modern paper plant, the biggest in the world,

brought from Japan by sea, and then by river.

We are hiring people to work there.

You can even choose your sector.

Farming, odd jobs, or lumbering for the factory.

Interested?

Gringo stuff, man. It pays well and on time.

Luxury and comfort. If you feel like it, sign up.

You can board the firm's plane tomorrow.

Plane!

You don't even need any papers.

Excuse me sir.

Get this one.

Indians are cheaper, got it?

Your old lady?

No.

You know, the farm is full of single men.

Strong young lads, always horny.

If something isn't done, they'll go at each other.

What are you trying to say?

Salome Is a great artist.

An artist? ok, sorry.

If there was at least a theatre up there... is there?

No, probably not.

But I don't know. I Haven't been there.

And nobody returned to tell me.

"I just hire men and send them there.

No hassle. Real gringo stuff.

Tell me... do you know when they opened the highway?

The Transamazonian? Of course...

- I came with it. Seven or eight years ago. - Son of a bitch!

- What did you say? - Not you.

Some truck driver I met on the road.

Aren't you going to sign up?

Work in a paper plant?

Great job! The opportunity of a lifetime.

Listen, man!

I can barely read or write.

The only paper I ever use is to wrap bread or to wipe my ass.

Seven or eight years ago, huh?

He told me he had passed here not long ago. When it opened.

That asshole calls that "recently".

Seven or eight years is not so long ago.

Things must have happened fast here!

Fuck. This place's busier than Rio and Sao Paulo combined.

What an overstatement.

For fuck's sake Swallow, where were you?

Let's get to work.

Dasdo, go fetch some water for washing.

I'll go.

Salome...

since...

I can only think of you.

Let's go away together for ever.

Look, kid, you've been in my bed once.

It don't mean I have to take you twice.

And certainly not forever.

Salome I love you.

Don't think for a second that your love moves me.

On the contrary...

it makes me sick.

It's like a fire, a disease.

You said it. A disease.

Get it cured.

It's not my problem. It's no one's problem.

I'm capable of anything!

Step up! Who wants to bet?

It's the international Muscle King. The famous Swallow.

5 to1 I odds. Who wants to bet?

No real men in this town? Nobody?

Let's try your strength. All or nothing.

I'll make it ten to one. Any takers? I'm doubling, ten to one.

It's the famous Muscle King. The international Swallow.

Look who's here.

I brought my buddy along.

Wasn't he your assistant?

You know, we are very versatile.

5 to 1?

With that giant? No way!

OK, even odds!

Even odds. The winner grants a rematch?

Right.

We're on then.

No, whoever wins, leaves everything on the table.

Until the end?

Everything, even your mother.

Ready?

Even our mother, huh?

Even our mother.

Hello, Boys!

Thank you for your attention.

Until next time.

Salome I didn't want to...

but we need money to get out of here.

Don't cry.

Swallow. He's gone.

Let's go after him.

He wouldn't want us to.

Let's go, Salome

Let's go to Belem.

Belem?

It's too big a city for the Caravana Rolidei.

The Caravana Rolidei is finished...

at least for now.

We'll go there try and earn our living by other means.

Here.

Caravana Rolidei is over.

Take your share and go.

But where?

How am I supposed to know? Wherever you want.

- I'd rather go with you. - With us?

- Yes, to Belem. - Listen, kid.

Didn't you understand what we're gonna do there?

I wanna go with you.

And what are you gonna do with us in a whorehouse?

- Dasdo. - Dasdo?

You want Dasdo to be a whore?

All right. It's set.

You'll come with us to Belem.

We'll split what Dasdo and Salome earn by four.

Earnings and costs, split 4 ways.

One more thing: I give the orders.

In love we can improvise, but not in the whore business.

The whore business must be very well administrated.

Another thing!

You're the one who talks with Dasdo.

Before we get to Belem, you have to settle it with her.

Could you kindly tell me where the red-light district is?

Could you please tell me where the red-light district of Belem is?

Red what?

Fuck! Where are the whorehouses?

I live in Belem, but I'm from Manaus.

You heard of it right? Manaus? Free trade zone?

Sometimes I bring stuff down the river.

I have some buyers.

That's why I'm here. Temporarily.

That way I stay close to the docks.

Make friends, and meet new clients...

until some bigger deal comes along.

Then I'll drop this life and live like a King.

Big deal around here is...

Ore.

I've got a few contacts in the hinterland.

We smuggle it to gringos here by Belem.

Smuggling?

I need someone who's daring.

- Care to join me? - Not my line of work.

C'mon! Ore is the future of the Amazon.

I saw her first.

What the fuck?!

I don't want her to.

It was your idea, you punk!

Not with him.

Why?

It seems clear to me that he's a gentleman.

He's clean, smells good, decent.

Incapable of mistreating a woman.

Anyway, in our trade we can't be picky.

You were very graceless kid.

- Get out. - No.

Take your share and scram.

Go home with your sweet little wife.

I won't go home.

We'll take the highway to Brasilia.

There, I'll get a decent job for me and my wife.

We'll leave for Brasilia.

Every Sunday I come here. Always at the same time.

Maria Alicia's a good wife.

But no marriage can resist a Sunday.

Specially after the TV shows end, and we stare at each other.

I always feel sleepy.

But Maria Alicia always wants to discuss the relationship.

Sometimes I feel like kicking the glass cupboard...

breaking each one of her china ornaments.

My friends constantly tell me.

"Haroldo, you are a lucky man.

"Maria Alicia's a perfect wife."

And indeed she is, you know?

She takes care of the house...

and the kids...

and me.

I even think Maria Alicia doesn't have any faults.

Maria Alicia is a saint!

I'm not going to Brasilia anymore!

What about Dasdo?

She's at the bus terminal, waiting for me.

But I'm not going anymore.

Salome...

I love you.

I really do.

One spends a lifetime waiting to hear these words with sincerity.

And when it happens, one's heart freezes.

Let's go away. Far from everything. You and me!

It's not right to smother those you love.

Let's go!

Where to?

To the terminal. To your wife and daughter.

No.

Are you getting in or not?

The bus is about to leave.

What happened with him?

The alarm clock didn't ring.

One million inhabitants. Over a million inhabitants!

Is there room for more?

No.

Even so, more people like yourselves are coming in. From all over Brazil.

And that's fair..

The future is here. On the central plateau.

We, social workers, take care of you all.

We guide you, we give shelter to your whole family.

Well, not exactly here in the heart of the city.

SOME TIME LATER

...we are back in this progressive city...

of the central plateau, the Caravana Rolidey.

Proud to present you with its attractions:

The fabulous Salome The Queen of the Rumba,

and the internationally known Gypsy Lord,

Emperor of Magicians and Clairvoyants.

You ok?

Yes.

Look at all that.

Flair, accordionist! Commercial flair.

After you left us, Salome Kept on "working" for a while.

Then I entered in a big deal...

some things to do with ore.

Smuggling!

I hit the jackpot...

and took Salome to dance in fancy clubs.

And now we're going to Rondonia.

Rondonia?

They're clearing a road right through the jungle.

We'll do performances for the Indians.

They've never seen anything like this.

Civilization!

But Rondonia's too far away!

We're like wheels, accordionist. We have to keep moving.

If we stop, we fall.

Para Vigo Me Voy...

- So? - So what?

We came to get you to join us.

You're not coming?

Notice anything new?

The lights look good.

No kid. The "Y" at the end.

Some gringo in Belem told me that Rolidei ends with a "Y".

How ignorant we were!

You're definitely not coming?

What about Altamira?

Don't know. I never went back there.

No, you fool! I'm talking about your daughter.

She's alright. She's beautiful.

So long, accordionist.

I wish you all the best.

We like you very much

and you too, Dasdo.

And the sun. Shit! What about the sun?

Para Vigo Me Voy!

Look! There it is!

Rondonia!

Hello, Sweetheart.

I only have a minute to talk.

Wait for the plane to pass.

As soon as winter's gone

I think I'll come for you.

Here it's hot as hell,

and my fan just felt apart.

There's already a Luna Park in Macau.

I caught the boat in Belem do Para.

They've built a factory on the sea.

The fishing's not the same, my love.

In Tocantins

the Chief of the Parantintins

went crazy over my blue jeans.

I got roller-skates for you.

And I saw Brazil on TV.

It looks like a storm's coming.

I'm feeling so lonely.

Oh, have pity on me.

I got a good break..

a chance in the capital.

And no need for a diploma, my love.

In Tabariz, the music sounds like the Bee Gees.

I danced with an unhappy tease

with hips like a typhoon at sea.

There's a japanese guy behind me.

I'm gonna take a trip to Manaus

'cause here its 110.

Looks like the sun will never set again.

Oh, how I miss our song...

and the fields of our backlands.

Truck driving's the good life, my love.

Baby, bye bye.

Regards to mother and dad.

I have to hang up now

'cause I've run out of dimes.

I'm gonna take the sled...

to the Rua do Sol, in Maceio

I caught a 'disease' in llheus.

But now all's well.

In March I'm off to Ceara

With the blessing of my "orixa."

And there I'll find the ore, my love.

Bye Bye Brazil.

I just used my last dime.

I think about you all the time. Tell them everything's OK.

I'm behavin' myself.

You bet I wanna go home.

I saw Brazil on TV.

And caught a "disease" in Belem

But now everything's OK.

And I must hang up...

TO THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE OF THE 21 ST CENTURY