"IN BRAZIL'S HISTORICAL EVOLUTION, THE 17TH CENTURY..." "WAS MARKED BY THE JOURNEY OF THE "BANDEIRANTES"..." "WHO PENETRATED IN MINAS GERAIS AND DISCOVERED..." "GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES IN ABUNDANCE..." "GIVING BIRTH TO THE TOWN OF VILA RICA DE ALBUQUERQUE." "IN THE 18TH CENTURY, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF ARTISTS..." "ARTISANS AND ARCHITECTS FROM PORTUGAL..." "BESIDES THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN SLAVES..." "AN ARTISTIC AND RELIGIOUS SPLENDOR BLOSSOMED..." "WHOSE MAIN EXPONENT IS ANTÔNIO FRANCISCO LISBOA..." "CALLED THE ALEIJADINHO." "ON THE POLITICAL AREA..." "THE MAIN EVENT WAS THE FIGHT FOR EMANCIPATION..." "AND FREEDOM CONDUCTED BY THE INCONFIDENTES..." "VIOLENTLY REPRESSED BY THE COLONIZATORS." "IN 1858..." "IN THE CITY NOW CALLED OURO PRETO, A HISTORIAN..." "RODRIGO JOSÉ FERREIRA BRETAS, VISITED MIDWIFE JOANA LOPES..." "THE ALEIJADINHO'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW..." "TO HEAR THE STORY..." "OF THIS IMMORTAL ARTIST, WHICH THE FILM WILL NARRATE." " Is it far, this place?" " It 's near Bonsucesso." "I'll be back for dinner, dear." "God be with you." "Tripuí." "It all started on this creek... when Antônio Días and other"bandeirantes"... found gold here, black gold, fine gold... almost 23-carat." "And here thousands of Portuguese men and African slaves arrived... to work in the goldmines, in the rivers and creeks nearby... limited by it a colomy's Peak." "Father Joâo de Faria Fialho... chaplain of the "bandeiras paulistas"... became wealthy through gold digging." "So wealthy he was, that he built, on his own expenses... this chapel, around which the Arraial of Father Faria grew." "So much gold and precious stones spread throughout Vila Rica... a staggering numberof mines... dug into hillsides, from where Portuguese, miners... and adventurers from all places extracted tons of that metal... and precious stones which made Portugal's and England's wealth... at the cost of the toil of thousands of slaves." "Arraial do Ouro Podre." "Morro da Queimada." "Tragic memories." "Here hundreds of miners used to live... working in the rivers and at gold digs." "But the colonizators' covetousness and oppressión... creating the foundries and the levy of a fifth... deducted from the extracted gold... provoked an aggressive insurrection of its inhabitants." "Led by Pascoal da Silva and Felipe dos Santos... they besieged, thousands strong, in Mariana... the Count of Assumar's palace, making him revoke the hated laws." "But Assumar, cowardly, brought in troops from Rio... surrounded, torched and razed the Arraial to the ground." "He tied the body of Felipe dos Santos to a horse... and dragged him through Vila Rica's streets, killing him savagely... and creating the hero and martyr of Morro da Queimada." "Aito da Cruz." "Saint lfigenia's Church." "The church of Chico Rei, of the black men brotherhood... of the slaves Chico freed with hard work in the mines." "Before this temple and all overthe city... the pompous feast of Reizado do Rosário was celebrated... when Chico Rei, the Queen and hercourt... danced, sung, held masses... in the presence of the governor-general... and the highest authorities of the capitania." "But not allwas mirth, wealth and opulence in Vila Rica and Ouro Preto." "There was also misery, suffering and humiliation... like I still see now in this slave flayed to the bone... that a violent capitâo-do-mato takes back to the senzala." "There was also romance and gallantry... like those experienced by this fountain... the meeting place of Maria Dorotéia Joaquina de Seixas... and Tomás Antônio Gonzaga... the idyllic and ill-fated lovers of the Inconfidência Mineira." "And this fountain seems to resound, even today... with the vows and woes of the love of Marília and Dirceu... for ever torn apart when Portugal deported Gonzaga to Mozambique... and Dorotéia to loneliness." " Good morning, Mrs. Joana." " Morning." " How are you?" " Fine, God willing." " Won't you come in?" " Don't you recognize me?" "You are Mr. Rodrigo Bretas, from Rio Negro's College." "Exactly, Mrs. Joana." "Exactly." "Come in." "You are quite well-known here in town." " I'm sorry that my home is so poor." " Don't you worry, Mrs. Joana." "I came to have a little chat with you, if it isn't too much trouble." " No trouble at all." "Your coat." " Thank you." " Sit down, Professor." " Thank you." "To tell the truth, I came to ask you a favor." "I'm interested in your father-in-law, Antônio Francisco Lisboa." "He's gone, and time, as you know, has a way of erasing everything." "The memories you have of him must be preserved... put down in writing." "Would you work with me on that?" "If my words can be useful at all." "I don't even know where to start." "I want you to talk about his illness." "But first, tell me what you know about his birth... his father, his mother..." "Antônio came into this world... on August 29, 1738... in Bonsucesso, in the old quartier of Freguesia de N. Sra." "Da Conceiçâo... of Antônio Días." "Push, Isabel!" "Push, Isabel!" "It 's about to come out, Isabel!" "Push!" "Push, Isabel!" "It 's coming out!" "It 's coming out!" "It 's a boy, Isabel!" "Strong... he looks like you, Isabel." "I'll call Mr. Manoel." "Mr. Manoel?" "The baby's born!" "It 's a boy." "So the little rascal is born at last." "Don't cry, son." "He's beautiful, just like his mother." "And he'll grow up to be an artist, just like his father!" "Give him to me." "My son." "It 's your dad." "Don't you cry." "It 's Daddy." "Daddy." "You'll work hard, you hear?" "You'll work hard... and you'll also be a scoundrel." "You'll drive those black girls crazy." "I don't know how to handle him." "Take him." "Do you want to go to Mommy?" "Do you?" "Are you happy?" "Big stones!" "I want big stones!" "Fernâo, one hour more, then we'll go home, all right?" "Antônio!" "Everyone stop!" "Antônio, this is no time for playing." "You aren't anyone's better here." "You must work too, you hear?" "Then give me a hug." "Work, my son." "Carry on!" "We'll make wonderful works out of these steatites!" "Careful!" "That 's it." "Antônio." "Hey, you rascal!" "Back to work, come on." "Come near your dad." "Work hard." "Let me see." "No, not like that." "Harder." "You need to grab it harder." "Like that." "Antônio Francisco, be careful, son." "This is dangerous." "Look at that sharp tip." "All right?" " Where are your friends?" " Over there." "Maurício, Agostinho, Januário, you pests, come here." "Maurício, sand this." "You, work on that stone." "Januário, dig it nice and good." "That stone." "Pay attention." "Sand your piece." "What are you looking at?" "That 's it." "Good." "That 's it." "You'll be just like me one day." "Antônio Francisco, when he was just 19... sculpted, on his father's demand, a woman's bust... to crown the fountain of Aito da Cruz." "That was the first manifestation of his audacious spirit... and caused much controversy in Vila Rica... making him very popular." "Osmar, are you mad?" "Don't, Osmar!" "Stop it!" "Back to work, everyone!" "Go back to work!" "Lazy nigger!" "Come on, you bastard!" " Piece of trash!" " Hit him harder!" "Nigger!" "Lazy piece of shit!" "Runaway trash!" "Get up!" "Come on!" "Let 's go!" " Son of a dog!" " Raise your head, nigger!" "Worthless nigger!" "Piece of trash!" "Take that!" " Run away now!" " Come on!" "Bastard!" " Go on!" " That 'll teach you to run away!" " You worthless shit!" "Bastard!" " Running away!" "Father?" "Do you want to see what I've done?" " What?" " Some drawings." "Drawings?" "Let 's see." "They are beautiful." "Really beautiful." "You are very talented, son." "Now you have to work hard to improve." "A man just came from Lisbon, he could help you, maybe you know him." "Joâo Gomes Batista." "No?" "Go to his house tomorrow." "I want him to see these." "He's a great master." "So?" "Tell me." "What about the black girls?" "Have they been treating you well?" "Abused any of them already, you little bandit?" "I don't think about that, Father." "They suffer enough already." "Look at Mother, for instance." "You freed her." "You are generous." "But don't you see how she aches for her people, for my people?" "Can't you see that she's not comfortable among white people?" "She even hides whenever some white man comes here." "You say "my people"?" "You are my son, Antônio!" "I am white, therefore, you have Portuguese blood in your veins!" "I am not white, Father." "I'm your son, and I'm proud of that but black blood is no shame to me." " I don't like what you're saying!" "You have my blood!" "That you cannot forget!" "I am black, Father!" "I am the color of the people Portugal brought here from Africa!" "People branded like cattle, who work all day long, suffering... but building the Colony!" "And what do they get?" "The whip!" "Torture!" " Brutality!" " Without "those people"... without Indians, without us, Portugal would've lost the Colony... to the English, the French, the Dutch... and we wouldn't have bridges, palaces, churches, fountains!" "And we wouldn't be digging from rocks and rivers the gold which brings us wealth!" " It brings wealth, yes, Father... but only to Portugal and England." "What 's left for Brazil?" "!" "We don't have schools, roads, hospitals, bridges!" "Portugal had to be strong, otherwise all America would be Spanish!" "And we wouldn't have here the great masters nor the artisans... from whom you have learned so much, right?" "What you say is right, Father." "Vila Rica acknowledges that fact." "But I can't accept the situation of those thousands of slaves." "Whole tribes, such as Chico Rei's, brought here to give everything... and then disappear, to be treated like animals." "Many are being issued their freedom." "Like you, for instance." " Like your mother." " Who can be free, Father... seeing thousands of slaves treated like beasts... tied to poles, living in miserable senzalas?" "You don't know how they suffer, humiliated, tortured at a whim!" "You're going too far!" "I won't admit that tone of voice and those words that accuse me... as if I was guilty of this!" "You'd better stop, all right?" "Yesterday I saw a slave being whipped by maddened guards." "I almost attacked them." "I suffered like it was me tied to that pole!" "If you'd done that, now you would be in some dungeon... beaten half to death!" "Antônio, for God's sake, I didn't raise you for that." "I don't want to hear any more nonsense from you!" " I'm going, I'll never come back." " Father, for God's sake... don't go away." "Forgive me, Father." "I owe everything to you." "I love you so much." "My son, I love you too." "That 's why I worry about you." "Don't start thinking about politics." "Think about your art... only your art, all right?" "Antônio?" "Antônio... what is this?" "It 's beautiful." "Very beautiful." "Beautiful lines." "Beautiful." "Let me see another." "Look at this pillar." "Beautiful." "Antônio, don't you forget... that painting comprises three fundamental things:" "Composition... drawing... and colors, Antônio, colors." "Your father told me about you." "You've got a gift." "And a future." "A beautiful future." "This is a masterpiece by Francisco Xavier de Brito." "Admire it and learn." "Come on, come on." "Antônio Francisco learned a lot from Francisco Xavier de Brito... a Portuguese which was famous for his ornaments and engravings... but he never had the chance to meet him." "Francisco Xavier died... when Antônio was only 13... but Antônio never denied his influence over his work." "You got here early today, Helena." "Lots of laundry?" "Too many people at home." "My father and my three brothers are miners." "You look quite busy yourself." " Even brought your own helper." " Helper?" "It 's my son Antônio." " Do you know him?" " Antônio Francisco Lisboa." " Who wouldn't know such an artist?" " I'm still an apprentice, Helena." " But I don't know how to laundry." " What for?" "That 's a woman's work." " Sorry." " Never mind, Helena." "It 's my second baptism." "Helena..." "I would like to portray you, so I'll remember you when I'll be gone." " Are you leaving Vila Rica?" " I don't know." "Fate can change a person's life." "Hasn't it changed yours?" "That 's true." "It 's changed a lot." "And if the Portuguese hadn't enslaved kings, queens... and princes from the kingdom of Congo, as well as many subjects... even my mother, I wouldn't be here with you." "I know." "I know the story of the great king Kalanga, sovereign of the Congo." "He was later named Francisco, and now he is Chico Rei." "If it weren't for the ship Madalena, with the slaves I wouldn't be here with you." " It wasn't the ship, Helena." "It was God." "He created our path." "He traced our course." "Come here." "What a wonderful world God has given us." "This landscape reflects His divine greatness." "I don't understand, Antônio." "God made all this world... but He put in it so much misery, so much suffering." "My mother was a slave, your mother was a slave... and they've suffered so much with the others from Africa." "Why?" "God puts us to the test." "Jesus was also put to the test." "Some will be saved by virtue, others will be lost by sin." "That 's the destiny of each one of us." "I don't know, Antônio." "I don't know." "Looking at this world, I see so much injustice, so much misery." "This majestic beauty, Helena... was created to fathom our greatness or our misery... our infinite glory or our tragedy... our love or our loneliness." " I want your love, Antônio." " It 's all yours." "And I want it to be as big as what we're seeing now before us." "As my mother was telling you, Master Antônio... your design was approved for the Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi." "The contractor will be Domingos Moreira de Oliveira... and, bowing to your suggestion... the paintings and goldleafs will be done by Manoel da Costa Ataíde." "It 's always an honor for me to work with Master Ataíde." "No doubt about it." "We have also approved Lucas Evangelista de Jesus... for the woodwork around the entrance doors and the sacristy... and Manoel Gonçalves for the windtrap." "As you see, dear friend, only people of the highest competence." "I am sure that, with this team... we'll have the most beautiful chapel in Vila Rica." "However, dear Master Antônio, it will be a work of great proportions." "I've made some calculations and I must admit I was a little appalled." "Think about it:" "The temple's architecture and all the decoration." "The entrance's sculpture, the crowning for the main altar... with the images of the Holy Trinity." "And angels... angels, many angels." " May God hear you, Mr. Cláudio." " And the Lamb on the sacrarium." "It 'll be a life's worth of work." "Now, if you will excuse me, I have duties to tend to." " So long, Master Antônio." " Goodbye, thank you for everything." "Are you in a hurry?" " I'd like to tell you something." " By all means." "Please." "Besides these beautiful pieces... when I came from Europe, I've brought books, many books... about the best in art, and I'd like to put them at your disposal." " I think they can be of great help." " You are too generous, sir." "I absolutely won't let this opportunity go amiss." " I'll bother you a lot, you'll see." " No bother." "Come whenever you like." "I have abundant material on Spain, France..." "Germany, Portugal." "However, Master Antônio..." "I notice you are abandoning Baroque art... and start to favor Rococo, isn't that so?" "Yes, I've been looking for personal solutions... of a Brazilian style." "Helena!" "Helena!" "What happened?" "You are all worked up!" "I just came from the consistory meeting." "They've approved my design for the Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi." "That 's wonderful, Antônio!" " Such an important assignment." " I want to work even more." "I want to go far." "But to do that..." "I'll need your tenderness very much." " You won't be left wanting, be sure." " Tomorrow..." "I'll talk to Mr. Cláudio Manoel da Costa, member of the consistory... to work out some details." "But now... you are the most important thing." "Antônio liked to visit, when he was drawing... the places were the slaves worked... especially gold digs and goldmines." "I'm finishing the main doorframe, Joâo Gomes." "What do you think?" "An extraordinary composition." "Mrs. Tereza and Cláudio Manoel must see this." "I don't have any doubts:" "It will be Vila Rica's most beautiful chapel... and on it you are making your peculiar style eternal upsetting many people, my friend." " Your words, Joâo Gomes... are a great incentive to me." "Thank you." " Januário!" "Where's Antônio?" " Up there." "Antônio!" "Antônio!" "It 's your father, Antônio!" "He's had a stroke!" "He's dying!" "You must fulfil..." "your destiny as an artist." "I have started it... and you will be... the continuation." "Protect... always... your mother." " Jesus..." " Have mercy on us." " Jesus..." " Have mercy on us." " Jesus..." " Have mercy on us." "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen." "No, no, please." "Let 's talk." "My dear Master Antônio Francisco..." "I've been thinking, and I decided that your path is the correct one." "You are making your own personal revolution..." "looking for a Brazilian style... without nevertheless neglecting to study the classics... the great European masters." "Congratulations." "Mr. Cláudio, I'm learning a lot here in your library." "Thank you very much." "Evidently, the influence of your father must have helped you greatly." "Manoel Francisco Lisboa, although he was born... and studied in Portugal... was really able to integrate himself in our environment... and he knew how to adapt quickly to Brazilian architecture." "Persevere, young man... in realizing a work of personal character and that is enduring... a work which reflects the time and soul of our people." "I am absolutely sure that the future will do you justice... and that your art will be known all over the world." "And this will be your consecration." " Coffee, Professor." " Thank you." "Delicious, Mrs. Joana." "But you were saying... that Master Antônio had made some trips to Sabará." "Several trips, professor." "The priests of the Order of Carmo, down there... wanted to decorate their chapel." "There was a quarrel between... the brothers of the Third Order here and those from Sabará." "What happened, Master Antônio?" " Jesus!" " My God!" " What happened to you?" " I don't know." " What is it, Master?" " I feel pain... in my fingers and also in my toes!" "I can't stand up." "No, no." "Take me away." "That day, Antônio Francisco's torture began." "He was ravaged by the intense pains of a mysterious illness." "Manoel, my husband, Antônio's son... abandoned me and went to Rio de Janeiro." "Helena and his assistants did everything to ease his suffering." "But it was all in vain." "Mrs. Helena!" "Mrs. Isabel!" "What is it?" "Antônio!" " Holy Mary in heaven!" " I feel an unbearable pain... in my hands and feet." " Let 's go to the bedroom." " Do you need anything?" "You can go, I'll take care of him." "Let me rest." "That 's all I want." "Go." "Have you heard about Master Antônio's illness?" "Very strange." "He's suffering a great deal from a very strange malady." "They say it 's some bad sickness he caught at some brothel." "Some say it could be some kind of lethargic encephalitis." "I think he's got syphilis." "Maybe." "He used to go to many whorehouses." "I think it 's "zamparina"..." "I don't know, there's a lot of controversy." "He was so pious, and now he's sick." "A strange fever that can even induce paralysis." "...and probably it messed up the poor man's humors." "People talk about typhoid fever, "zamparina", scurvy in short, any malignant illness." " My son." " Mother." " I'll order a mass... for the restablishment of Antônio Francisco." "A mass, Mother?" "Let us turn to the Physician of physicians... the Lamb." "You know, Mother, what also troubles me?" "That maybe Master Antônio will not be able to work anymore." "I can only imagine, Mrs. Joana... how Master Antônio suffered." "And what impresses me the most is that, despite his illness... with his fingers atrophied, he created his most important works." " He never stopped working." " He never stopped." "Wrap it tight, Agostinho." "You've got nothing to do here!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go!" "Go away!" "Go find something to do!" "Mother, don't stay in the kitchen all the time." "This is no work for you." "You're not a slave anymore." "Put that through your head." "You've been freed, like me." "Let Helena help you." "And another thing... whenever some white man comes to talk to me... you hide yourself in the kitchen?" "You're my mother." "You've got nothing to be ashamed of." "You're so beautiful." "So beautiful." "No." "No." "No!" "No." "I don't want to!" "Antônio's features became really ugly, Professor Bretas." "He left to work very early in the morning and came back at night... concealed under long overcoat... and a big hat which covered a little his deformed face." "I'm coming!" "Good afternoon, Mrs..." "Helena." "How can I help you?" "I'm Lieutenant José Româo... aide to His Excellency, the governor-general..." "Don Luís da Cunha Menezes." "Mr. Antônio Francisco Lisboa is not home." "He's working, he will only be back at night." "May I ask what you wish?" "I come to deliver to Mr. Antônio Francisco Lisboa... an invitation from the governor-general." "Wouldn't you like to come in, Lieutenant José Româo?" "That would be a pleasure, Mrs. Helena." "A real pleasure." "Would you like to sit down?" "Would you like some coffee?" "I could not refuse so much kindness." "I'll have some, yes, with pleasure." "Coffee in the Colony is delicious." " In fact, everything is, here." " Do you think so?" "Doubtlessly." "Perfectly." "Everything is delicious." "Without a doubt." "The invitation is for Mr. Antônio Francisco Lisboa... to come to the palace, tomorrow, if possible." "The governor-general would like to commissión a piece from him." "A very honorable invitation." "Delicious." "It has been a great pleasure to meet such a beautiful girl." "Now I must take my leave." "As aide to the governor-general..." "I have important affairs to tend to." "It will be an immense pleasure to see you again, Helena." "Who knows, Lieutenant?" "Maybe one day." "Wait, Lieutenant." "See you soon, Helena." "Father." "My treasure, my treasure." "Don't forget about dinner with the Ambassador." "No, don't worry." "I won't forget." "Man, is he ugly." " Master Antônio." "How are you?" " Exactly how God wants me to be:" "...always working." " I had the idea of summoning you... so we can agree on a new sculpture of Saint George... for the Corpus Christi processión." "But I want it big... natural size, and with bendable knees... so it can parade among the crowd in Vila Rica." "Big." "José Româo's proportions would be an excellent parameter." "I'm willing to pay you three ounces of gold." "However, it is crucial that the sculpture be ready... before the Corpus Christi processión, Master, without delay." " Are we settled?" " We're settled, Governor... and when I close a deal, I'm usually true to my word." "When the processión started, the people of Vila Rica... all began to laugh... seeing on the statue of Saint George on a horse... the surprised face of Zé Româo." "They even came up with a limerick:" "That saint that goes yonder With a face so full of wonder it's not any saint I know it's Lieutenant Zé Româo" "Therefore, Mrs. Joana, Master Antônio had his revenge." "Yes, and what a revenge it was." "See what you've done thanks to your quarrel with that poor cripple?" "Now all of Vila Rica is laughing at the lieutenant!" "You can't stay here anymore." "You'll be transferred... far, far away from my government and from me." "That 's all!" "Go away, man!" "Shoo!" "Lieutenant Antônio Xavier!" "Take this document to the chief judge." "Hurry up, man!" "Today!" "Antônio Francisco..." "Mother isn't feeling well, she asked me to sleep at her house tonight." "I left milk and coffee ready." "I've made the cheese buns you like so much." "Good night." "The illness was a terrible torture for Antônio, Mr. Bretas... but the indifference and absence of his son... and the revulsión and unfaithfulness of Helena... were his greatest moral suffering." "You know I want you so much... beautiful cabocla." "Everything's ready, Helena." "You've got nothing to fear." "Everything will work out." "The sergeant and the cavalry chief have been warned." "You'll take the coach in Taquaral... before seven in the morning." "You'll get to know Rio de Janeiro and its beautiful beaches... its beautiful streets." "A beautiful city, you'll see." "Even more than Vila Rica?" "Much more." "Poor Antônio." "I pity him so much." "What I'm doing is crazy, but there is no other way." "And you have second thoughts still?" "To live with that horror, Helena?" "That illness." "Poor thing." "He is horrible." "Even only being near him has become difficult." " I'm even afraid of him." " What about me?" "Are you afraid of me?" "Am I like him?" "Lieutenant Zé Româo isn't so ugly." "He has such a delicious mouth." "Only the mouth?" "The rest also." "Look." "There's our great artist..." "Master Antônio Francisco Lisboa." "Look, daughter." "He is sculpting new wonders... for our most magnificent and newest chapel." "Master?" "Master Antônio, how are you?" " You lousy cur!" " How dare you?" "Let 's go, my pet!" "Let 's go!" "Let 's go away at once!" "You did well, Antônio Francisco, you did well!" "You chased away from the church that arrogant buffoon." "I hate that kind of people." "They come here to amuse themselves just like they were in a circus." "Your paintings are becoming more and more beautiful, Ataíde." "This roof will raise some eyebrows." "You're getting results which surpass everything you have done so far... and I see you're still true to your style... of portraying the figures as halfbreeds." "Yes, Antônio Francisco." "I think I will raise the usual banter." "Even more than usual, given the size of this painting." "It 's as if I was gathering my mulattoes in the city square." "The prejudiced can busy themselves to understand the world better." "Isn't the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, also Mother of blacks and halfbreeds?" " Sure." " Then why can't She be portrayed... as a halfbreed Herself?" "Helena!" "Helena?" "That devil of a woman abandoned you, my son." "By that time, gold was not so abundant anymore... but the Portuguese went on confiscating part of it." "The miners protested, and that... motivated the rebellion of the Inconfidentes." "As you well know, Mr. Bretas... the Inconfidentes used to gather at Cláudio Manoel da Costa's house... in whose library Antônio Francisco used to study." " Any news, Maciel?" " Barbacena arrived with orders... to collect on back taxes due on the levy of a fifth." "Vila Rica is panic-stricken." " Good evening, Ensign." " Good evening to everyone." "We were talking, Maciel, Alvarenga, Colonel Freire de Andrade... and Tomás Antônio Gonzaga, about the back taxes." "This is our best opportunity to insurrect the people... the miners, the government debtors." "Don't you think, Alvarenga?" "Sure." "The collection of back taxes is the signal for insurrection... for the independence of the Colony." "We cannot waste this opportunity." "We need to act fast." "Isn't that so, Colonel Freire?" "I will bring in my troops as if we intended to crush the rebels... but my soldiers will promote a general fraternizing like you always wanted, Xavier." " It is my dream, Colonel." "To declare our independence, establish the Republic... create schools, universities, factories, free the slaves." "What about the flag, Gonzaga?" "What have you decided?" "It will bear a triangle which will symbolize the Holy Trinity." "Alvarenga came up with a wonderful idea." "There's a line by Virgil that could be written around the triangle:" " "Libertas quae será tamen"." " "Freedom, even if late"." "Yes, fellows, believe it." "Brazil will be free." "Our people will be free." "The pain is worse." "It 's stronger in my toes." "It 's hard to bear." " Which foot, Master?" " Both." "It 's as if someone was beating on them with a mallet." "There." "Go back to work, come on." "Januário, bring me a stone." "Back to work, Maurício." "Back to work." "Master!" "My God!" "What happened, Master?" "!" "Sweet Mother of God!" "He cut his own finger off!" "Soldiers, hurry up!" "I'm sorry, Master Antônio... but something very serious is happening!" "Arrests!" "Who has been arrested?" "Sit down, Januário." "They arrested Judge Gonzaga, Colonel Freire de Andrade... and Alvarenga Peixoto." "Tiradentes, they say, has been arrested in Rio... and they want to get to Father Rolim, Maciel and the others for conspiring against Portugal." " And why is this happening now?" "I've heard that Colonel Joaquim Silvério talked to the governor." "And now, even worse news." "Your friend..." "Cláudio Manoel, has also fallen." "He was arrested in his home... and the guards took him to the House of Royal Contract." "Dear God!" "Mr. Cláudio Manoel too?" "Him too, Master Antônio." "What a disgrace!" "Januário, summon Maurício and Agostinho." " I want to go see Mr. Cláudio." " Now?" "Now, run!" "What do you want?" "Master Antônio Francisco wishes to visit Cláudio Manoel da Costa." "Visits are not allowed in prison!" "Go away, come on!" "Beat it!" " What 's happening here?" " Lieutenant Antônio Xavier..." "I ask you to let me visit my friend..." "Mr. Cláudio Manoel da Costa." " It is not allowed!" " Wait, Luís." "Move over!" "Visits are not allowed, but I'll make an exception because it 's you." " You may go in, but alone." " I can't walk, Lieutenant." "My assistants need to carry me." "All right, but don't be long." " Open the door." " Yes, sir!" "Open the door." "Leave the Master and get out." "Master." "Master Antônio." "How did you manage to come in here?" "Look at this squalor." "I can hardly believe it." "You... in this place." "What a disgrace, my God." " So much misery." " It happened, Master." "Joaquim Silvério was the traitor." " We're lost." " This could not have happened." "Yours was the best idea possible." "To make the Colony independent." "This is the end of all of our dream projects." "In truth, Joaquim Silvério... wasn't with us for his ideals." "No, not for his ideals." "He didn't want to pay his debts." "Now he's gone over to the other side." "My friend, I'm worried about my mother." "I can imagine how much Mrs. Tereza must be suffering." "Do me a favor, my friend." "Go see her, tell her that you have been with me... and tell her... tell her..." "that I am fine." "Master Antônio, the visit must end now." "I'm sorry, but you really have to go." "Goodbye, Mr. Cláudio." "May God be with you." "There must..." "be a solution for this." "God be with you." "Mr. Cláudio, who was wealthy... acted as a bridge between those who had money within the Inconfidência... and the poets and idealists." "Mr. Cláudio, in his first testimony, was weak." "The accused may begin his defense." "I'm a loyal and faithful subject... to Her Serene Royal Highness Mary I... and I never participated in such a vile temerosity." "Gentlemen, I declare that I am innocent... of the foul accusations which were thrown against me... by malignant enemies." "Yes, I admit... to have participated in meetings at Antônio Gonzaga's house... because I thought we would talk, as usual... about art, literature, never about politics... or about conspirations that resemble more... fairytales which don't deserve the slightest attention." "But I've never formed plans, proposed strategies... or suggested ideas to these ploys." "I want the record to show... that I deny vehemently... and that I never worked on the issuing of laws... because I surmised that such laws, such things... could never be realized or brought to light... causing shameful scandals and abashment... of which I am now the unfortunate victim... and not only I... but equally my whole family..." "and my honored brothers, equally innocent." "I repeat that at Tomás Antônio Gonzaga's house, I was deceived." "I would like also to clarify and express, on the record... that despite the cynic and malignant accusations thrown against me... that denigrate me in the presence... of the honorable chief judge of Vila Rica... it never crossed my mind... not even in the slightest, to offend such a respectable person... and I ask you to forgive me... for this whole disgrace." "But if I am bad as I confess..." "I don't assign virtues or qualities to the accusators... who maybe are more terrible than those... who were by them accused." "We know that Joâo Rodrigues de Macedo, the tax collector... the richest man in the Colony, was a mystery." "Maybe Cláudio Manoel da Costa knew... that he conspired to not pay the taxes to Portugal." "Mr. Cláudio was being held at the house of Mr. Macedo... who lived on the second floor." "Below it there was the House of Royal Contract, directed by him." "I can only imagine what happened." "Surely Macedo, fearing that Mr. Cláudio could denounce him... paid off the guards for an infamous missión." "Then this means that..." "Cláudio Manoel da Costa was assassinated!" "Exactly." "That goes against all the other versions." "For the 66 statues..." "Antônio Francisco never believed that Mr. Cláudio had killed himself." "Already in his seventies and very weak... he signed a contract with Vicente Freire de Andrade... to sculpt, in Congonhas do Campo, 12 prophets in steatite... and 66wooden statues of the Passión." "The contract shall also include... the name of Manoel da Costa Ataíde... to give color to the Passión's statues." "You, of course, know Master Ataíde." "Yes, perfectly, Master Antônio Francisco." "Sure, we'll include his name." "Giddyap, Thunder!" "Goodbye, Master Antônio." "Have a nice trip!" "Thank you." "Agostinho!" "Agostinho!" "What is it, Agostinho?" " Agostinho!" " Dear God!" "My father-in-law was well into his seventies... when he came back from Congonhas." "He was very weak." "He couldn't do anything anymore." "Sit down, Professor." " Eat them while they're hot." " Thank you." "I remember him, very grumpy... always complaining about something." "Once he was furious because he had been paid with some fake gold." "He was also mad at Januário, who went to spend Christmas... at Alto da Cruz, and forgot to give him his medicine." "For not taking his medicine, he went almost totally blind." "Rest a little." "Try to sleep." "I would like so much to see the place where he spent his last moments." "Follow me, Mr. Bretas." "This is the room." "And this is the bed on which he died." "Before he died, he was bedridden for two years... suffering a great deal." "Jesus..." "Jesus... have mercy on me." "Have compassión." "Take me away from here, Lord!" "Take me away, for God's sake!" "Have mercy on me!" "Put Your divine feet... on me." "Jesus..." "Dear God." "So much misery, so much suffering... together with so much beauty and poetry." "The Christ he loved so much." "Come see this, Mr. Bretas." "When he died, these papers were in his drawer." " Do you want to examine them?" " Yes, I do." "Mrs. Joana... these are precious documents." "A receipt... a frontispiece, a drawing... a sketch of an entrance..." "These are papers of extraordinary importance." "You can keep them, if you want." "Nobody will take better care of those papers than you." "You know what I think, Mr. Bretas?" "Was it worth it, all the suffering of Antônio Francisco?" "He worked so hard, he did so many beautiful things... and soon everything will be ruined." "Nobody will remember him." "You're wrong, Mrs. Joana." "Nobody will forget Antônio Francisco." "He symbolizes our people, who suffer like he suffered... and he left a sublime work, which all the world will come here to see." "I'll write about Antônio Francisco Lisboa... but that will be only the beginning." "Many will write about him... more and more, all over the world." "Mrs. Joana, God bless you and protect you always." "Thank you so much for everything, and goodbye." ""IN THE LAST YEARS OF THE 'GALLANT' CENTURY..." "WHEN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION..." "TOOK EUROPE BY STORM, IN A LOST COUNTRY..." "ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC..." "A HALFBREED WITH DEFORMED HANDS..." "PRODUCED THIS SUBLIME WORK..." "THE LAST IMAGE OF GOD EVOKED BY THE HAND OF MAN."" "THIS FILM IS DEDICATED TO RENATO SANTOS PEREIRA"