In Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, the homosexual drug dealer lord Rainha Diaba (Milton Gonçalves) decides to find a scapegoat to save his lover from the jail for traffic with students. His gang, under the command of Catitu (Nelson Xavier), uses the young pimp Bereco (Stepan Nercessian), but he escapes from the police siege and decides to break and rob the points where Rainha Diaba sells his marijuana, initiating a bloody war against the powerful dealer.
"A Rainha Diaba" is a very violent Brazilian movie of the 70's, in the underworld of Rio de Janeiro, and awarded in many Festivals. The kitsch atmosphere, associated with a brilliant work in the lighting, is ahead of time, and Pedro Almodóvar used this style mostly in his first movies. The gore story, about a cruel homosexual marijuana dealer, is full of betrayals, shootings, travesties and prostitution, and was awarded as follows: (1) Prêmio de Qualidade INC ("Quality Award INC") / 1974 (Coruja de Ouro "Golden Owl"); (2) Instituto Nacional de Cinema ("National Institute of Cinema") / 1974 (Best Actor: Milton Gonçalves); (3) VIII Prêmio Air France de Cinema ("VIII Air France Award of Cinema") / 1974 (Best Actor: Milton Gonçalves); (4) Prêmio APCA Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte ("APCA Award Paulista Association of Art Critics") / (Best Actress: Odete Lara / Whole Work); (5) VIII Festival de Brasília do Cinema Brasileiro ("VIII Brasília Festival of Brazilian Cinema") / 1975 (Best Actor: Milton Gonçalves / Best Cinematography: José Medeiros / Best Music Score: Guilherme Vaz). This movie participated also in the following festivals: (1) Cannes Festival / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs (France, 1974); (2) San Sebastian Cinema Festival (Spain, 1975); (3) 80 Ans de Cinema Brésilien Centre Pompidou (France, 1978); (4) Black Roots, Racines Noires (Milan, Italy & Paris, France 1999).
The DVD is one of the best I have, with excellent extra material, including interviews, making of, trailer, posters and additional footages. Just as a curiosity, Milton Gonçalves was very promoted in his career by this movie, but he was the third choice of director Antonio Carlos da Fontoura. His other two first options refused the role of Rainha Diaba, afraid with the repercussion of such a corrupted and evil character. There are excellent information and curiosities in the Extras of this DVD. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "A Rainha Diaba" ("The Devil Queen")
