Ruy Guerra Movies
International filmmaker Ruy Guerra is primarily known for his innovative work in Brazil's Cinema Novo movement during the '60s and early '70s. Born in Lourenco Marques, Mozambique, a Portuguese colony at the time, Guerra's love of cinema began in his youth where as an adolescent he published stories, essays and articles on film criticism. He also used 8mm film to teach himself filmmaking. By age 19, Guerra had become a left-wing political activist, taking part in anti-racist and pro-independance demonstrations. After leaving Mozambique in 1951, he studied filmmaking at IDHEC in Paris; he then began working as an assistant cameraman and assistant director in France. He made his directorial debut with The Unscrupulous Ones (1962), one of Cinema Novo's few mainstream successes. Because of its graphic presentation of sexual violence the film was very controversial in Brazil. In addition to directing, Guerra has also been an editor, cinematographer, producer and actor and frequently co-writes the films he directs. His films are known for their stylish exploration of socio-political issues. During the late '70s, after Mozambique was de-colonized, Guerra returned to his homeland to help the newly created national film institute. He also made Mueda (1979), the country's first feature film. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Three generations of women struggle to make lives for themselves and their families in the desert wastes of Northern Brazil in a drama from filmmaker Andrucha Waddington. In 1910, Vasco de Sá (Ruy Guerra) leads his wife, Áurea (Fernanda Torres), and her mother, Dona Maria (Fernanda Montenegro), to their new home -- a ramshackle cabin in Maranhão, a tiny village in the middle of a barren sand dune. Vasco and Áurea's new neighbors are hardly welcoming of the new arrivals, especially Massu (Seu Jorge), and when Vasco unexpectedly dies, Áurea and Dona Maria are left to fend for themselves, an especially vexing challenge as Áurea is with child. Nine years later, Áurea and Dona Maria have turned their cottage into a home, but life in Maranhão remains a constant uphill battle, and Áurea dreams of moving away with her daughter, Maria (Camilla Facundes). Áurea becomes infatuated with Luiz (Enrique Diaz), who works with a group of astronomers who have come to Maranhão to observe an eclipse, but their romance comes to a crashing halt when Dona Maria is killed. By 1942, Maria (now played by Fernanda Torres) is a promiscuous alcoholic who brings shame to Áurea (now played by Fernanda Montenegro). After the body of an Air Force pilot is found near Maranhão, a military officer is sent to investigate -- Luiz (now played by Stenio Garcia). When Luiz meets Maria, he sees the image of the woman he longed for years before, and while she doesn't have the same feelings for him, Maria realizes that Luiz represents her best hope of finally escaping the village she's come to hate. The House of Sand received its North American premiere at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2000
In this existential drama from Brazil, a nameless man from a wealthy family (Jorge Perugorria) drifts through life without a job or a clear idea of what to do with his life. His sister (Bianca Byington) feels that he's turned his back on everything his family stands for, but at the same time his best friend, a radical leftist, chides him for not giving up the estate left to him by his parents -- which is currently overrun by squatters, who may soon be kicked out by a gang of violent bikers. The man is somehow convinced that he's being stalked by someone who wants to kill him, and as he wanders from one party to another in a daze of paranoia, he fends off the advances of his sister's drug-addicted friend (Susana Ribeiro) and seeks shelter from his ex-wife (Leonor Arocha), who is not entirely happy to see him. Written and directed by Ruy Guerra, a veteran of Brazil's Cinema Nova movement, Estorvo was screened in competition at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jorge Perugorría
- 1989
This epic Brazilian film was based on the equally epic novel by Antonio Callado. Set between 1954 and 1964, the film's focus is the saga of Jesuit priest Taumaturgo Ferreira. Fed up with civilization, Ferreira ventures deep into Amazon country to live with and work among the Xingu Indians. The most expensive Brazilian production up to its time, Kuarup was well worth every penny. Upon its international release, Kuarup was often coupled with an impressive "the making of..." documentary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Taumaturgo Ferreira, Claudio Mamberti, (more)
- 1988
Made for Spanish television, Fable of the Beautiful Pigeon Fancier (Fabula de la Bella Palomera) stars Claudia Ohana in the title role. Though she is a wife and mother, she is ardently pursued by powerful businessman Ney Latorraca, who uses Ohana's beloved pigeons to transmit messages of love to her. Eventually, a passionate affair results, with Latorraca claiming his "property" by painting a message on Ohana's abdomen. It is thus only a matter of time before the woman's husband tumbles to the clandestine romance. Gabriel Garcia Marquez co-adapted the script of Fable of the Beautiful Pigeon Fancier from his own short story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ney Latorraca, Claudia Ohana, (more)
- 1986
Malandro is a Brazilian musical set in the Rio of the 1940s. Likeable prostitute Fabio Sabag is fired from her nightclub job. Fabio's pimp Edson Celulari vows vengeance upon the girl's odious ex-boss. Celulari sets about to seduce the club owner's daughter Claudia Ohana, but she proves to be no pushover. The play on which this film is based was very obviously influenced by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, especially The Threepenny Opera and Happy Days. Malandro was released in Brazil as Opera do Malandro. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edson Celulari, Claudia Ohana, (more)
- 1983
- NR
This tantalizing blend of eroticism and mysticism was adapted from a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Erendira (Claudia Ohana) has a strange and wondrous vision; shortly afterward, her grandmother's house burns down. The grandmother (Irene Papas) gets her revenge by forcing Erendira to become a prostitute. As the "johns" become increasingly prosperous (along with grandma), Erendira keeps her wits about her by experiencing even more bizarre visions. Veteran European character actor Michel Lonsdale has an effective cameo as a hypocritical senator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Papas, Claudia Ohana, (more)
- 1980
Although the technique and execution of this docudrama is choppy, director Ruy Guerra has still achieved an effective statement. In the early 1960s people in the town of Mueda along the Mozambique-Tanzania border rebelled against the colonial Portuguese magistrate and as a result, six-hundred townspeople were slaughtered. The circumstances of the massacre are shown in three ways: an enactment in front of the colonial government building, a fictional portrayal of encounters with the magistrate inside the building, and interviews with people who survived or witnessed the killing. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- 1976
When a construction worker falls to his death due to a deliberate laxness in safety regulations, the construction foreman's son-in-law attempts to get some compensation from the construction company for the man's widow. Instead, he runs into obstruction after obstruction. This impassioned indictment of the fraternity of greed won the Silver Bear Award (second prize) at the 1978 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelson Xavier, Lima Duarte, (more)
The most famed and well-regarded collaboration between New German Cinema director Werner Herzog and his frequent leading man, Klaus Kinski, this epic historical drama was legendary for the arduousness of its on-location filming and the convincing zealous obsession employed by Kinski in playing the title role. Exhausted and near to admitting failure in its quest for riches, the 1650-51 expedition of Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro (Alejandro Repulles) bogs down in the impenetrable jungles of Peru. As a last-ditch effort to locate treasure, Pizarro orders a party to scout ahead for signs of El Dorado, the fabled seven cities of gold. In command are a trio of nobles, Pedro de Ursua (Ruy Guerra), Fernando de Guzman (Peter Berling), and Lope de Aguirre (Kinski). Traveling by river raft, the explorers are besieged by hostile natives, disease, starvation and treacherous waters. Crazed with greed and mad with power, Aguirre takes over the enterprise, slaughtering any that oppose him. Nature and Aguirre's own unquenchable thirst for glory ultimately render him insane, in charge of nothing but a raft of corpses and chattering monkeys. Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1973) was based on the real-life journals of a priest, Brother Gaspar de Carvajal (played in the film by Del Negro), who accompanied Pizarro on his ill-fated mission. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klaus Kinski, Cecilia Rivera, (more)
- 1970
This violent feature concerns the cacao wars of Brazil in the 1920s. Gods symbolically come to life and interact with the humans who perpetuate the murderous bloodbaths. This film was one of two official entries for Brazil at the 1970 Berlin Film Festival and it illustrates the troubles of both the working class and social elite. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norma Bengell, Othon Bastos, (more)
- 1969
A family living on a remote island learns an escaped prisoner may be in the area. Allan (Sterling Hayden) is the professor who studies the migratory habits of birds. His wife Clea (Maureen McNalley) has a fascination for all things dead. Her sister Lis (Susan Strasberg) is visiting to break the news of her impending marriage to an older man. Clea leaves tobacco and food out for the unseen escapee. Lis meets the prisoner (Stuart Whitman) on the beach and the two make love. The quiet paradise is interrupted by the escaped prisoner who later suffers a potentially fatal wound while killing another man. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sterling Hayden, Maureen McNally, (more)
- 1964
In the northeastern region of Brazil, local farmers are unable to grow sufficient crops on their arid land. When a holy man arrives and claims that his "sacred" ox will bring them rain if they follow where it leads, the naive peasants believe him. They follow the mystical creature to a nearby village where soldiers are posted to guard the mayor's store of provisions. Here, the tension culminates in a clash between the starving peasants and the armed guards, and needless deaths occur. Os Fuzis/The Guns illustrates characteristics of the South American Cinema Novo movement with its expressive blend of aesthetic composition and powerful socio-political subject matter. Screenwriter/director Ruy Guerra released this feature only three years after his successful and controversial debut, Os Cafajestes/Unscrupulous (1962). In 1972, Guerra would appear onscreen as Don Pedro de Ursua in Werner Herzog's Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes/ Aguirre, the Wrath of God. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelson Xavier, Maria Gladys, (more)
- 1962
An adult tale that has ample nudity and a few sexual encounters, this drama by director Ruy Guerra centers around a wealthy lothario who has never done a moment's work in his life -- and is suddenly faced with poverty. Or to be more precise, the rich father who supports him may lose all his income. Rather than getting a job, the playboy hunts up an accomplice who will help him out with a blackmail scheme. He plans on photographing his uncle's mistress in the nude, and though it works and he gets the photos, everything falls through and they opt for finding another target, the uncle's daughter. These plot angles allow for ample nude scenes on the beach and introduce both one steamy sexual encounter and one attempted rape. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jose Valadao, Daniel Filho, (more)
