Review by claudio_carvalho

During the period of 1964 to 1985, Brazil lived a military dictatorship. In the 60's, the Dominican friars Tito (Caio Blat), Betto (Daniel de Oliveira), Fernando (Léo Quintão) and Ivo (Odilon Esteves) help leftist organizations, but they are arrested and tortured by the despicable Chief of DOPS Fleury (Cássio Gabus Mendes), who is trying to arrest the leader Carlos Marighella (Marku Ribas). Tito and Fernando do not resist the violent torture they are submitted and betray Marighella, who is ambushed and executed by Fleury. In 1973, in France, the exiled friar Tito is unable to overcome his trauma and depression and commits suicide in the Convent of La Tourette.

"Batismo de Sangue" discloses the true story about the participation and engagement of Dominican friars in the fight against the Brazilian military dictatorship, based on the best-seller written by friar Betto, and collaboration of friars Betto, Fernando and Ivo. Therefore, the historic facts are undoubtedly accurate, but unfortunately the screenplay is awful. There is no development of characters and situations, which are glimpsed on the screen through ellipsis and without connection or entwinement with the previous scenes. The friars and the leftists are pure and naive, while the torturers and policemen are clichés and caricatures. On the other hand, the long gruesome tortures sequences are very explicit and graphic and give the sensation of exploitation to the plot. In the end, in spite of full of good intentions, this movie fails. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Batismo de Sangue" ("Blood Baptism")