Getúlio (2014) explores a political crisis that happend in the second presidential mandate of Getúlio Dornelles Vargas. He was the most controversial president in Brazilian History.
The past is briefly shown in the beginning so I'm gonna summarize important facts in a chronological way: Vargas was the leader of a Revolution in 1930. He helped ending the Oligarchy Republic, when São Paulo and Minas Gerais politicians and businessmen ruled Brazil. He became a temporary president and after a Civil War with São Paulo, a constitution was created and Getúlio obeyed it. But he would then lead a coup d'etat to keep being the president and also increase his power. Estado Novo, a dictatorship, took place from 1937 to 1945. He was deposed by the army and, some years later, was democraticaly elected, in 1951. The movie plot explores the end of this mandate.
I praise a lot the screenwriters for covering a short period in which many things happend so the pace is agile, but not fast. Also, the lines are well thought out. They summarize previous facts, using characters voices, to remember audience important informations about Vargas. Besides, the screenplay is very impersonal and takes facts rather than opinions as a foundation.
The film tone is a detective one and the scores by Federico Jusid help a lot creating this mysterious and tense atmosphere as well as the cinematography by Walter Carvalho in some scenes. (the ones with more light are beautifully shot too).
João Jardim, the director, was very smart in the use of locations. He chose the best spot in Palácio do Catete (Catete Palace) for each scene. It's possible to feel the planning.
To end this, I think Tony Ramos was a great call to play Getúlio. Not only because of his appearance, but, essentialy, due to his charisma and talent. He had to portray tension without loosing the passionate way of Vargas, and he managed to do so. The other actors are great and are very similar to the historical characters they portray.
Knowing the story reliefs a lot of the tension but it was worth watching anyway.
The past is briefly shown in the beginning so I'm gonna summarize important facts in a chronological way: Vargas was the leader of a Revolution in 1930. He helped ending the Oligarchy Republic, when São Paulo and Minas Gerais politicians and businessmen ruled Brazil. He became a temporary president and after a Civil War with São Paulo, a constitution was created and Getúlio obeyed it. But he would then lead a coup d'etat to keep being the president and also increase his power. Estado Novo, a dictatorship, took place from 1937 to 1945. He was deposed by the army and, some years later, was democraticaly elected, in 1951. The movie plot explores the end of this mandate.
I praise a lot the screenwriters for covering a short period in which many things happend so the pace is agile, but not fast. Also, the lines are well thought out. They summarize previous facts, using characters voices, to remember audience important informations about Vargas. Besides, the screenplay is very impersonal and takes facts rather than opinions as a foundation.
The film tone is a detective one and the scores by Federico Jusid help a lot creating this mysterious and tense atmosphere as well as the cinematography by Walter Carvalho in some scenes. (the ones with more light are beautifully shot too).
João Jardim, the director, was very smart in the use of locations. He chose the best spot in Palácio do Catete (Catete Palace) for each scene. It's possible to feel the planning.
To end this, I think Tony Ramos was a great call to play Getúlio. Not only because of his appearance, but, essentialy, due to his charisma and talent. He had to portray tension without loosing the passionate way of Vargas, and he managed to do so. The other actors are great and are very similar to the historical characters they portray.
Knowing the story reliefs a lot of the tension but it was worth watching anyway.