O Cravo e a Rosa

"O Cravo e a Rosa" (The Thorn and the Rose) became one of the best soap operas ever made in a very short time. Record between 2000-2001, this "novela" was one of the bests. Adriana Esteves was marvelous as Catarina, like the whole cast were in their respectives. As Ney Latorraca said (the actor who played Cornélio Valente): "it was the right work in the right time. There was no particular success. The whole cast shined." And he didn't knew how he'd be right.

For those who enjoy a soap opera, Brazil is fertile ground, as the overwhelming majority of general TV channels in the country transmit, on average, four soap operas daily. Invariably, much of this material eventually goes around the world, being bought and broadcast in other countries. One of the most permeable markets for Brazilian teledramaturgy is, of course, my country, due to its cultural and linguistic proximity. I watched "O Cravo e a Rosa" at the premiere in Portugal in the year 2001, and came back to watch it on at least four opportunities, during which the soap opera was reprised. The last of these occasions occurred about seven years ago. The great amount of re-presentations is, of course, related to the enormous success it has had here.

The plot has a comic background and is based very slightly on the play "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare. The story revolves around the banker Batista, who is one of the wealthiest men in the city of São Paulo and aims for a career in politics. But he has two daughters he needs to get married. The younger daughter, Bianca, is deeply in love with an adventurer, Heitor, who wants only her money, but the problem is that Catarina, the eldest daughter who is always the first to marry, does not want to hear about it . Catherine is deeply rebellious, full of personality and leader of the city's feminists. She believes that men use marriage to tame women and prevent them from playing their true role in society. Therefore, Batista asks the rude farmer Petruchio to conquer the heart of the rebellious daughter, in order to put an end to that problem.

This soap is undoubtedly one of the funniest I have ever seen, so it is not surprising that it has been a resounding success in my country. The moments of humor are countless, but some of them have become iconic. It is one of the soap operas more remarkable of the career of Adriana Esteves, that gave life to Catarina, the beast. It is also, undoubtedly, the most significant work of the career of Eduardo Moscovis, who will always be remembered for his performance as Petruchio. Equally noteworthy was Leandra Leal, as Bianca. I also enjoyed watching the work of Ângelo Antônio, Carlos Evelyn, Rodrigo Faro, Taumaturgo Ferreira, Suely Franco, Ney Latorraca, Luís Melo, Maria Padilha and Drica Morais.

Brazilian Soap Operas have always had international fame and I am proud of it. I have my list favorites "A gata comeu"(1985), "Brega & Chique" (1987), "Direito de Amar" (1987). However, the soap operas aren't so good as it used to be.

I had given up on watching soap operas when I started to watch "O Cravo e a Rosa". It's a very good entertainment, very soft and sweet. Specially the relationship between Petruchio and Catarina. It's basically a romantic comedy with all the charm and softness of it.

The fact that it's on the beginning of the century only makes it more special, we can be transported to another time with wonderful characters and a pleasant plot. Now I can be proud of our soap operas production again.