Entranced Earth


Entranced Earth is a 1967 Brazilian Cinema Novo drama film directed by Glauber Rocha. It was shot in Parque Lage and at the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro. The film is an allegory for the history of Brazil in the period 1960–66.

Plot

The story is told in flashback by a writer who explains how he got into his present situation. He had been supporting a conservative party leader, but then decided to support the liberal candidate. The liberal wins the election, but soon reneges upon his campaign promises. The disillusioned writer decides to stay out of politics and resume his writing. Unfortunately, his girlfriend convinces him to try to talk the country's leader into pursuing a particular direction. The writer is soon shot.
Latin America, the 1960s. In the Republic of Eldorado, Paulo Martins is an idealist journalist and poet linked to the rising conservative politician and technocrat Porfirio Diaz and his mistress, Silvia, with whom they form a love triangle. When Diaz is elected senator, Paulo moves away and goes to the province of Alecrim, where he associates with the activist Sara. Together they resolve to support the populist alderman Felipe Vieira for governor in an attempt to launch a new, supposedly progressive political leader who will guide the change of the situation of misery and injustice that plagues the country. After winning the election, Vieira appears weak and controlled by the local economic forces that financed him and does little to change the social situation, which leads Paul, disillusioned, to leave Sara and return to the capital and meet Silvia again. He approaches Júlio Fuentes, the country's biggest businessman, and tells him that President Fernandez has the economic support of a powerful multinational, EXPLINT, that wants to take control of the capital. When Diaz goes to the presidential race with the support of Fernandez, Fuentes' television channel supports Paulo, who uses it in order to attack the Diaz. Vieira and Paulo join the presidential campaign again until Fuentes betrays them both and makes an agreement with Diaz. Paul wants to start the armed struggle, but Vieira gives up.

Cast

Its exhibition was forbidden in Brazil in April 1967 for "tarnishing the image of Brazil" but after protests by both Brazilian and French filmmakers, it was authorized by the Brazilian government to be screened at Cannes and in Brazil. It debuted in the 1967 Cannes Film Festival where it won the FIPRESCI Award. It also won the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1968.