Unravel the Mysteries of Bacurau
Politically charged and visually stunning, Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Bacurau mixes poignant social commentary, lackadaisical realism, and unrestrained violence to create a mystical film-going experience. Through beautiful landscapes and effortless cinematography, Bacurau lulls the viewer into a calm, meditative state before unleashing a brutal third act utilizing the stark realism witnessed throughout the film. The result is a slow-burn that begs the question: which was better the journey or the destination? The answer is up to each individual viewer, but that answer is not easily perceptible.
The story begins as Teresa (Bárbara Colen) arrives in her hometown of Bacurau, in rural Brazil, to attend the death of her grandmother (Lia de Itamaracá). As her presence in Bacurau unfolds, the audience is introduced to a collection of remarkable characters, all of whom become integral to the overall plot. Soon after Teresa’s arrival, strange things begin to happen in town. The water supply is cut off for political reasons, Bacurau is erased from satellite maps, cell phone coverage ceases, people are mysteriously killed, and wait…is that a UFO? With all the strange phenomena becoming more frequent, the townsfolk must band together and stop the malignant force terrifying their small community. At the risk of giving too much away, the twists accelerate until a cathartic ending, and yet the twists don’t end there.
The excellence of Bacurau exists, in part, due to the incredible cast. The characters act as a force to drive the intricate plot as well as an anchor of realism that underscores the entire film. Domingas (Sônia Braga), the town’s medical professional who is prone to angry outbursts, Pacote (Thomas Aquino) an enigmatic, brooding leader who may or may not be a hitman, the dangerous rebel Lunga (Silvero Pereira); and the uncanny villain (Udo Kier) all inhabit the world created by the filmmakers. Even more characters emerge from the confines of their homes in Bacurau, imprinting their indelible stamp on the story. Each plays an important role in the film, whether that is to act as a focal point of the story or to act as a stand-in for the film’s cutting social commentary. Regardless of each character’s role, the importance of each person in Bacurau is heavily defined. Not one person in the village is without merit, and this message embraces a sense of community which is driven home during the final grindhousesque confrontation.
The first two thirds of the film set up this sense of community. The massive turnout for Teresa’s grandmother’s funeral where every villager attends introduces the audience to the people of Bacurau. A museum in town educates locals and outsiders alike on the history of the small town. The banding together in desperation strengthens the community against a common threat, but without the immense care the filmmakers take in setting up this camaraderie in the first two acts, the film’s ending would feel much less deserved.
Bacurau takes extreme time to set up the difference between the impoverished villagers and corrupted outsiders. Whether those outsiders take the role of a shady politician bribing locals for votes, or the nefarious white Americans led by Kier’s Michael, the strength of the community becomes an unstoppable force as those in perceived power underestimate the people of Bacurau consistently. A struggle slowly smolders across each frame as the conflict between the lower class citizens of Bacurau face off against outsiders intent on violence due to an erroneous sense of superiority. The filmmakers cleverly use a scathing critique of social politics and colonialism to incite their characters into action and the payoff is worth the long yet beautiful journey.
The issues of class in the film are accentuated by how race is depicted. While during the course of the film, the audience is introduced to the proprietors of the mysterious activities, the differences between the two groups are emphasized subtly at first, then more blatantly. The villainous outsiders condemn anyone whom they see as heterogeneous, including the villagers of Bacurau. To them, their whiteness, upper-class stature, and heterosexuality give them the ability to terrorize at will, regardless of consequences. Meanwhile, in Bacurau the community is a mix of many races, sexualities, and gender identities. They revel in their diversity and the threats are constantly coming from outside this diverse, close-knit society. Their differences make them targets, but in the village of Bacurau, their diversity makes them undefeatable.
Although some may find the slow pace of the first act frustrating, the film really opens up an exciting commentary on societal expectations. The thrill of the film is felt throughout, in subtle and intriguing ways. With little exposition and explanation, mysteries are slowly answered one by one, each answer deserving of its long-awaited reveal. Bacurau is a concise and crisp ride that allows the mind to reel, without sacrificing its message.
