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Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

International film shown as part of University Film Series

Published 2012-02-18T11:08:00Z”/>

entertainment

Kayla Wohlford

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

This concept is taken to the extreme in the 2001 Brazilian film “Behind the Sun.” The film, shown Tuesday in Ayres Hall Room 106, was part of the humanities program’s university film series.

The film, which is based on the novel of the same title, has won numerous awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film.

Choosing the film was serendipitous, said Quirino DeBrito, a professor of foreign languages and literatures.

Set in Brazil in 1910, the film is a chilling tale of the ongoing feud between two poor farm families, the Breveses and the Ferreiras. The victims of the feud are the oldest son of each family.

The movie chronicles the two families as the oldest sons must kill and be killed and the families’ decade-long dispute over land is taken to a gruesome level.

“The conflict between the families is paralleled with the violence within the families as well,” DeBrito said.

The movie begins with the youngest Breves son, Pacu, as he paces down a trail in the dark chanting and dreaming. The film then goes back in time to reveal main character Tonho, played by Rodrigo Santoro, as the eldest Breves son. Tonho sets out to avenge the death of one of his brothers in a thrilling and suspenseful scene in which he viciously sprints after a Ferreira son through a forest of twigs.

The fast-paced scene is a blur of colors and heavy breathing. Tonho successfully shoots the Ferreira son in an eerie death scene. The murder now pegs Tonho as the next victim in the families’ twisted battle.

“My favorite part is the opening scene,” DeBrito said. “I enjoyed how the main protagonist, Pacu, foreshadows the ending.”

Ashley Anderson, a senior psychology major, was viewing the film for her international studies class, she said. The class meets every Tuesday night to watch various international films.

“It was my first time seeing it,” Anderson said. “I liked it but I thought it was mostly sad.”

As the movie progresses, Pacu brings a light-hearted feeling to the dark film with his charisma and playful soul. His sharp tongue and lively imagination brighten the plot. Pacu is a happy child even though he is treated badly by his parents, who refer to him as “the kid” to detach themselves from him as they anticipate his murder.

Cody Wackerman, a senior graphic design major, would recommend the film to his friends, he said.

Both Tonho and Pacu have changes in attitude as a mysterious female circus performer arrives in the village and lends Pacu a book about mermaids.

Pacu becomes engulfed in the book for the rest of the film in an attempt to remove himself from his sad surroundings. Tonho and the circus performer have an immediate intimate connection, changing the movie’s tone from that of a vicious death fight to one of a love story.

DeBrito believes students could benefit culturally from the seeing the film, he said.

“The history of Brazil is something that can conjure up thoughts for American students,” DeBrito said. “It is something very powerful and beautiful.”

The film’s ending is unexpected and brutal as it returns to the beginning scene of Pacu wandering on the trail. He is mistaken for Tonho and shot by the Ferreira son.

It is a stunning Brazilian love story, said Laura Nice, a professor of humanities.

The university film series features foreign films each semester. Students can enjoy a movie in Ayres Hall Room 106 every Tuesday for a $3 donation.

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<strong>Kayla Wohlford can be reached at</strong>

<em>[email protected]

</em>

 

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