Cinema
Caiçara
Adolfo Celi · 1950
Synopsis
Marina, a healthy young woman, lives in the asylum where her parents, who have leprosy, are interned. She marries Zé Amaro, a widower who builds boats on the coast of São Paulo, and follows him home. Unhappily married, she finds support there in Chico and Sinhá Felicidade, an old woman who practises witchcraft, while Manoel, her husband's partner, pursues her with his desire. Then an adventurer sailor, Alberto, arrives.
Context
The first feature film produced by the Vera Cruz studio, founded in São Paulo, the film was shot from March to September 1950 at Ilhabela, an island off the São Paulo coast, and produced by Alberto Cavalcanti, who co-wrote the screenplay. Its direction is credited to Adolfo Celi, Tom Payne and John Waterhouse. The music is by Francisco Mignone. Released on 1 November 1950, it was presented in competition at Cannes the following year.
Who it is for
A drama of a little over an hour and a half, in black and white, shot on location on an island off the coast.
Prizes and reception
The first film of the Vera Cruz studio, it competed for the grand prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951.