Three Reasons to "Bacurau"
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 1:46PM by Jason Adams
Bacurau, the fierce new Brazilian film from the folks behind Aquarius in 2016 (and the accompanying Sônia-Braga-ssaince), is finally hitting U.S. theaters this week. It tells the story of a small rural community in the middle-of-nowhere Brazil that politicians are attempting to wipe off the map, literally, by hiring a bunch of heavily armed militia-types (including pointedly several Americans) to come down and burn the place to the dirt.
The movie has been out in its home country, where it was a huge hit, for several months already, and on its way here to the States it's already played several fests to mucho raves -- I reviewed it right here at NYFF in the fall, calling it "an ass-blistering revenge fable." And you should indeed cover your ass. It's an intense ride, throwing populism and politics and capitalism and little silver spaceships into its grindhouse meat-grinder, spitting a pulpy, invigorating scream out its other side.
Here, five months after last watching it, are three thoughts that still stand out about Bacurau to me...
1 -- It makes for a stellar companion piece with Best Picture winner Parasite. It's Parasite's deranged desert cousin. I saw them very nearly back to back at NYFF last year and this might get stoned to death if I admit I prefer it to Bong Joon-ho's movie... but I kinda do? Bacurau's hard lean into genre conventions feels more honest. Parasite (a movie I love, mind you) is a little like that line from Showgirls about still giving them tits and ass while pretending not to; Bacurau is just a little more honest about its tits and ass. Which in this case means a bloodbath, standing happily on the shallow graves of the poisonously privileged. Its allegory is just as blunt as Parasite's, but ultimately more cathartic. Its off-the-charts fury at the state of the world feels more right.
2 -- UDO F'ING KIER. Bacurau gives this living cult legend a delicious role (he plays the leader of the invading killers) that's right in his nutso wheelhouse, and he runs as he runs with it. Directors Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho reuniting with Aquarius star Sônia Braga is the headline and she's great in her smaller role, but the best scene in the film is the one between her and Kier, and all the second and third best scenes involve him too. His presence, already so far off the map it's extraterrestrial, gives the film so much of its, dare I say, big dick energy.
3 -- I honestly already think that Bacurau will be one of the defining films of our era, as long as there are people in the future to look back and define our era, anyway -- it surges and crests with not just the bullied and beat-down anger of our political moment but possible ways through, and beyond. Bacurau the town is by no means a utopian kinda place, neither before or after the events of the film; there are cycles of violence carved into its stone face, living museums set to spring to rambunctious bloody life at any moment. But the people, when pressed, press real freaking hard back, and it is truly an inspiration. Be like Bacurau, everybody.
[all photos © Kino Lorber]
Bacurau, NYFF, Sonia Braga, Udo Kier
Reader Comments (9)
Wow, It sure looks amazing. Thanks for the heads up
Udo Kier... YES!!!!!
I dont think it qualifies as a huge hit in Brazil . It was moderate in box office, but it was a critical darling
Loved the FX work in this!
I love this movie! Saw it last year and there were only 3-4 persons in the theatre so I don't think it's a big hit at all. And don't feel bad about preferring this to Parasite. It's like Call me by your name -I utterly dislike that movie. Would rather watch Brokeback or God's Own Country anytime.
Excellent movie. Excellent writing, Jason.
Oh, I said it was a big hit because they're literally selling it that way here in the US -- they call it one in the movie's trailer! They say something like "THE MOVIE SEEN BY A MILLION BRAZILIANS" or something like that, which gives the impression of being impressive when pushed at you in big trailer font. I didn't even check the box office but being unfamiliar with Brazil's usual BO the actual numbers wouldn't have meant much to me if I had.
it was a sizable hit, specially for its genre/style and release (i.e., number of screens).
It was a critic darling and everybody who"s seen it was dazzeld; maybe not a financial hit but an utterly important piece of filmaking. It hit hard and it was amazing, definitely an experience worth of your time. As it is another last year's brazillian masterpiece, the very poetic and bittersweet "The Invisible Life" with Fernanda Montenegro.