La parole donnée

One of those overlooked Films in Cinema History, Honest, multi-layered and amazingly contemporary, this is one of those movies that have admirably stood the test of time, add to that Winning the prestigious Palm d'Or at Cannes 1962.

It is not a surprise that this movie won the golden palm in Cannes. The story of the man that carry a big and heavy cross as a promise for the healing of his donkey is the simpliest and the most beautiful. The poetic way as it is shown became the film an unforgettable classic, with Zé as the protagonist. For sure, technically it is a pre-historic film, the sound quality and editing is really bad, but it even help the audience to focus what really cares. That is not only about poverty, but about humanity. If you liked Central Station, you can't miss.

It's really a shame that this masterpiece is constantly overlooked by All-Time Greatest Lists, even though it won the prestigious Palm d'Or at Cannes.

"The Bicycle Thieves" is frequently cited as the greatest entry into Social Cinema, yet unfortunately the public and the critics seem to forget the sheer beauty that "The Payer of Promises" is. While "Bicycle"'s influence is undeniable, "Payer" goes beyond that.

Honest, multi-layered and amazingly contemporary, this is one of those movies that have admirably stood the test of time - specially if one considers the difficulty it is making Films in Brazil.

Featuring incredibly believable and dramatic performances, a rich, vivid setting and neo-realist technique employed in an elegant and sincere manner, this movie should not be missed. I found impressive how well the film flows - nothing is there gratuitously and the pacing is pitch perfect.

The amazing strength, courage and valor of Brazilian Cinema is a force to be reckoned with, as we take a look at the works of Film Makers such as Peixoto, Duarte, Rocha, Candeias, Bressane, Khouri, Salles and most recently, Meirelles. To list a very short list.

In fact, I can say without fear that it is a better Film than The Bicycle Thieves. It is easily one of the Best Brazilian Films in History - if not one of the Best in Film History. Period.

O Pagador de Promessas / Keeper of Promises (1962) : Brief Review -

A powerful Brazilian film about a religious circus. The film centers on Zé, a man who is a strong believer in God. When his donkey falls ill, he promises to carry a cross to the Santa Bárbara church in exchange for the donkey's health. As the miracle occurs, the donkey is saved and becomes healthy in just one day. Zé carries a cross on his shoulder for seven leagues and reaches the church alongside his wife, who is reluctant about his beliefs and promises. Just for the sake of a bed, she spends a night with a local pimp, becoming disloyal to her kind-hearted husband. This is the film's biggest flaw, as we later see a crowd gathered outside the church learning about his wife's affair with the pimp, yet Zé does nothing about it. That was quite foolish. Anyway, the father of the church denies Zé's entry because he made his promise in a way that contradicts Catholic beliefs. Zé's simple promise becomes a topic of political, religious, and social hysteria, and he becomes a sensation in no time. While he could make money and become a hero, he denies fame and remains true to his promise. The system does everything to stop him, and the tragic ending shatters you from within. I liked the theme, the way events are explored, and the powerful climax. I just didn't appreciate the wife's character. She was so shameless that she asked her husband to take her home after spending a night with a pimp. One of the hookers humiliates her and her husband in front of a large crowd by calling him a "cuckold," and still, there are no reactions from him regarding her or her mistake. This conflict undermines the purity of the otherwise noble subject, making it appear highly contradictory. Thanks to the powerful message in the climax and the one-man show by Leonardo Villar, this film is a must-watch.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

A shame such an important movie has no poster here on IMDb. I wanted to add the one that is used on Wikipedia, but I would have to pay to do that. Strange. (Edit: it has a poster now.)

If you are critical of religion fanaticism, you must see this movie! It shows what can become of fanatic people, how lack of education plays an important role in fanaticism, the arrogance of the church and the hypocrisy of our society.

Zé do Burro (Joe of the Donkey) has the soul of a child. He is a good guy, but extremely naive. His naivety is shamelessly exploited, and people cruelly distort his good intentions, making an evil person out of him, when all he wanted was to do good.

The movie won the Golden Palm in Cannes and other prizes. It's a classic. Dialogs are a bit theatrical (only if you understand Portuguese), but so they used to be that time. A movie that will get under your skin.