Behind the Sun

2001

Behind the Sun

Critics Consensus

Visually poetic, Behind the Sun is a powerful statement about cycles of violence.

74%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 46

88%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 4,362
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Movie Info

A young man is forced to choose between family tradition and his own dreams and desires in this drama from Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles. In 1910 in a remote farming community, two families, the Breveses and the Ferreiras, both of whom earn their living growing sugar cane, have been squabbling over the ownership of a piece of land for years. The disagreement turned violent some time back, and after the first shot was fired and blood was spilled, the other family insisted upon killing the gunman as a matter of honor. The second shooter was then killed for the same reason, and ever since the two clans have been trading off murders in the name of familial honor and justice. The Breveses, who are a much smaller family, have been suffering a great deal more than their rivals thanks to this feud; a steady drop in sugar prices has also left the family with little but their pride. When Inácio, the first-born son of the Breves family, is shot down, his father (José Dumont) orders his next-oldest son, Tonho (Rodrigo Santoro), to kill one of the Ferreira boys after the traditional month-long waiting period. Tonho finds himself questioning the wisdom of this bloody rivalry, and he ponders his fate while spending time with his younger brother (Ravi Ramos Lacerda), whom his parents never bothered to name. As Tonho ponders his fate, a small traveling circus comes to town; Tonho and his brother are soon caught in the spell of Clara (Flavia Marco Antonio), a beautiful circus performer who befriends the young boy and nicknames him Pacu, while Tonho finds himself falling in love with her, and longing to travel the country at her side. Abril Despedacado won the Little Golden Lion award at the 2001 Venice Film Festival.

Cast

José Dumont
as Father
Rodrigo Santoro
as Tonho
Rita Assemany
as Mother
Ravi Ramos Lacerda
as Pacu
Luis Carlos Vasconcelos
as Salustiano
Flavia Marco Antonio
as Clara
Everaldo Pontes
as Old Blind Man
Caio Junqueira
as Inácio
Mariana Loureiro
as Widow
Servilio De Holanda
as Isaias
Wagner Moura
as Matheus
Othon Bastos
as Lourenco
Gero Camilo
as Reginaldo
Everaldo De Souza Pontes
as Old blind man
Vinivius De Oliveira
as Ferreira Family Member
Soia Lira
as Ferreira Family Member
Maria Do Socorro Nobre
as Ferreira Family Member
Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
as Salustiano
Vinícius de Oliveira
as Ferreira Family Member
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Critic Reviews for Behind the Sun

All Critics (46) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (12)

View All Critic Reviews (46)

Audience Reviews for Behind the Sun

  • May 02, 2011
    Tragic, beautiful, poignant, compelling. A well told story not easily forgotten. This was one of the most moving films I've seen in a long time. It's golden colors seem to breathe the very heat of the desert itself, and the cinematography is breathtaking. The actors do a brilliant job with their performances, a fine example of perfect casting . I don't see this is as a story about revenge, or even hatred, but more about one's willingness, or unwillingness, to blindly accept a ritual based on an idea which is not valid. Excellent film!
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
  • Dec 31, 2009
    It is easy to fall in love with the film's gorgeous visuals, but let's not overlook how the script is poorly developed and clearly deserved a few rewrites to be more efficient, being instead an obvious revenge story that feels contrived and lacks in narrative cohesion.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 17, 2008
    Behind the Sun, Abril Despedacado, a Brazilian movie who told the simple story about two families locked in a blood vendetta over sugar cane land in the late 19th century somewhere in a northern part of Brazil. Beautifully shot against dry Brazilian landscapes and narrated through the eyes of a little boy and off course the tremendous cast of talented actors, especially, Rodrigo Santoro. However, it was the little boy who really stole the show and carried the movie through. He was fantastic, and showed real brotherly love, and the relationships between the families.This movie was often painful but delightful for those who admire depth, romanticism and beauty of expression. A must to see.
    Daisy M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 25, 2007
    could've been condensed into a 30 minute short movie but who am i to argue with some director who's into everlasting family fueds and murder? sounds a bit too like the mafia. anyway, the acting was so so. the bird that played the gypsy circus totty was nice looking... almost falling outta her corset near the beginning ... ai chi wa wah!!! yeh, basically it all falls down coz it was too long. what it could've been was tonho goes and shoots someone. they come back and shoot someone (see what i did there? i didnt say who and make it a spoiler... ah, i'm so amazing). yeh this film ... i wouldn't recommend to ya
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
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