Caingangue

"Caingangue - In the Devil's Crosshairs" is a rare gem in Brazilian cinema that boldly ventures into the Western genre, challenging conventions and offering a unique experience. Director Carlos Hugo Christensen, inspired by Clint Eastwood's classics, especially the Dollars Trilogy, delivers a captivating and action-packed narrative set in the heart of Mato Grosso in the 1970s (today´s Mato Grosso do Sul since 1977).

David Cardoso, renowned for his performances in popular "pornochanchadas," surprises as the fearless protagonist Caingangue, embodying the enigmatic stranger who arrives amid a heated dispute between gunmen and local settlers. His compelling performance elevates the film, providing an authentic and thrilling experience.

The plot unfolds amidst an unequal struggle between local settlers and the henchmen of the powerful Dr. Ribeiro, portrayed with mastery by Sergio Britto. The battle for land ownership serves as a backdrop for exciting sequences, filled with gunfire and twists, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

A standout feature of "Caingangue" is the audacious choice of the soundtrack, primarily composed of paraguayan polka, and chamamé, a musical style born in Argentina but rooted in the Mato Grosso region and Paraguay. This decision not only emphasizes the film's authenticity but also adds a unique layer to the narrative, intimately connecting it to the local culture.

The cinematography shines in capturing the beauty of the Mato Grosso wilderness, providing viewers with a genuine glimpse of the region. The decision to film in Maracaju - MS adds an intriguing element for local residents, who can identify familiar landmarks and take pride in their city's unique contribution to Brazilian cinema.

An intriguing note is the discovery of this color version of the film, a rarity on the internet. Previously, available copies were in black and white, including those shown in local schools. The fact that this version was found and shared, enabling its screening in schools, is commendable and preserves and celebrates the rich cinematic heritage of the region.

"Caingangue - In the Devil's Crosshairs" is a testament to the creative potential and diversity of Brazilian cinema. By exploring uncharted territory with an engaging Western, the film stands out as a valuable contribution to the country's cinematic history. An exciting and authentic experience that deserves to be discovered and appreciated.

Caingangue was a beautiful western, short in plot but incredibly unique in execution. This was a story of a young man who lost his father in an ambush, was attacked himself and left to die. He was found by a tribe of Caingangue indians who nursed him back to health and raised him. He assumed the name "Caingangue" in honour of the tribe that raised and trained him and set out to gun down the men responsible for his father's death.

Caingangue rides into town, attracts the attention of the bad guy land baron and his wife, stays with the rich undertaker, gets beaten up, outguns some bad guys and so on. Like I said, plot itself wasn't very original, but I would *love* to see it again. It borrowed heavily from Sergio Leone westerns, especially "A Fistful of Dollars", but it was filmed and set in the beautiful south of Brazil! I wish there had been more like it, it was an outrageous concept for its time. Bright, rich, almost cartoony, colours throughout, this was an interesting experience.

*(Feijoada Western--brazilian form of "Spaghetti Western", as Feijoada is the most typical brazilian food).

Often violent, mostly poetic, Caingangue is a touchstone in Brazilian filmography. It has the bitter feeling of our frontier with Paraguay, where there is no law except gun power. It hasn't changed much till our days, so Caingangue won't shock Brazilians. I was fortunate to know Carlos Hugo Christensen (from Argentina but with a green and yellow heart) and tell him Caingangue was among my favorite movies. He was surprised; he didn't know he had directed a cult classic. Beyond the strong storyline, told by a master of storytelling, I was also impressed by its score, a harsh Paraguayan harp punctuating the cruel massacre of farmers that resisted selling their properties for less than ten percent of the value. Brazilians forgot all about Carlos Hugo Christensen, who adopted this sunny land with no memory.

"Caingangue" is a Brazilian western ("feijoada" western) that takes place in Mato Grosso (deep into the Brazilian hinterland), in modern times.

The story is a staple of the classic western. A big landowner with the aid of hired gunmen is terrorizing and killing the small landowners. He wants all the land for himself. Out of nowhere comes a mysterious rider – he keeps himself to himself but he'll end up fighting for the small landowners. He's called Caingangue.

Something that enhances the film is the gorgeous landscape of Mato Grosso (sunsets, blue skies, wide plains, forest, river...) and the beautiful soundtrack featuring music from the borderland of Brazil and Paraguay. In short, the landscape and the musical score give the film an almost epic scope. The landscape is so breathtaking that it seems to swallow the men in its beauty.

I think that "Caingangue" suffered some influence from the American westerns (most of the Brazilian westerns were influenced by the Italian westerns), but it has its own personality and it features some scenes that the classic American westerns would never show.

Recommended!