Based on the story by Guimarães Rosa (a kind of Brazilian James Joyce), the saga of Augusto Matraga, a rude, belligerent and womanizer farmer who is forced out of the powerful top space for the oppressed and marginalized, reminds us that there is no more room for the mythical heroes of the past, because modern man brings within not only the hero, but also the coward, not only good, but also evil. Through his hard work, his prayers and faith that he would have his time and choice, Augusto develops a compassion that was profoundly hidden. Bravely and surprisingly he finds its ultimate redemption. Masterfully filmed in the region of Diamantina (North of Minas Gerais), a delight to the eyes, the film reveals a little bit of the linguistic ingenuity of Guimarães Rosa, rebuilding the Portuguese language from the simple people from backwoods. To watch and appreciate.
