Imagine a town without a cemetery? Well, that is what the town of Sucupira, in Brazil, has to endure. Anyone that dies in the town must be taken to a nearby village, an exhausting trek to Santana for the burial. Enter Odorico Paraguacu, a man with a vision. Odorico, taking advantage of the vacant job of mayor, decides to run for the position on a platform that will give the long suffering Sucupiran the privilege of resting in their own town after their deaths. Only problem is that in more of a year in office, no one wants to die, so the cemetery is a white elephant.
Basically, that is the premise that screen writers Guel Arraes and Claudio Paiva concocted for the film. Mr Arraes directed. The comedy mixes politics and local customs in ways that are not always as effective as the creators intended. The main problem seems to be the style of acting that demands over the top performances, when perhaps a more subtle approach would have worked better.
Marco Nanini plays Odorico with gusto, relishing the role he was asked to play. His Odorico dominates everything in the film. The excellent Jose Wilker shows up as the hired gun Odorico needs to carry out his plans. The supporting cast does good work for the director.
Basically, that is the premise that screen writers Guel Arraes and Claudio Paiva concocted for the film. Mr Arraes directed. The comedy mixes politics and local customs in ways that are not always as effective as the creators intended. The main problem seems to be the style of acting that demands over the top performances, when perhaps a more subtle approach would have worked better.
Marco Nanini plays Odorico with gusto, relishing the role he was asked to play. His Odorico dominates everything in the film. The excellent Jose Wilker shows up as the hired gun Odorico needs to carry out his plans. The supporting cast does good work for the director.