João Grilo is a backwoodsman who tries to get along at the expense of the powerful in the city, who pretend to be respectful of morals and good customs and hide their sins. But when a band of cangaceiros attacks the small town, everyone has to settle accounts with God and the Devil.
The gentle, emotional nuances of Evan’s coming-of-age story would have been so beneficial to have incorporated into the life of a POC character. Showing a Black, Asian or Latino young man that is afforded the space to be vulnerable, flawed and sensitive while driving a compelling and widely-loved narrative would have been a game changer.
We have a long way to go with LGBT representation in film, especially when it comes to LGBT characters of color and trans characters.
It’s passionately protective of the women mentioned in the story or appearing on screen. Just like the article and the #MeToo movement, the film could help a trapped person find the courage to fight back.
A complex, realistic, and loving mother-daughter relationship is at the heart of this story about Black pageants and the fight for a better future.
