IMDb RATING
8.3/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
A simple yet devout Christian makes a vow to Saint Barbara after she saves his donkey, but everyone he meets seems determined to misunderstand his intentions. Will he be able to keep his pro... Read allA simple yet devout Christian makes a vow to Saint Barbara after she saves his donkey, but everyone he meets seems determined to misunderstand his intentions. Will he be able to keep his promise in the end?A simple yet devout Christian makes a vow to Saint Barbara after she saves his donkey, but everyone he meets seems determined to misunderstand his intentions. Will he be able to keep his promise in the end?
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 1 nomination total
Leonardo Villar
- Zé do Burro
- (as Leonardo Vilar)
Antonio Pitanga
- Coca
- (as Antonio L. Sampaio)
João Di Sordi
- Police Detective
- (as João Desordi)
Veveldo Diniz
- Sacristão
- (as Velvedo Diniz)
Napoleao Lopes Filho
- Bispo
- (as Napoleão L. Filho)
Featured reviews
This film is great! One of the best movies I have ever seen. About faith, religion, poverty...well, about life and all that surrounds us
Could have been just another sentimental and dishonest movie about human condition but no! It is beautiful and trully rewarding... A Masterpiece, do yourselves a favor and watch this movie!
Could have been just another sentimental and dishonest movie about human condition but no! It is beautiful and trully rewarding... A Masterpiece, do yourselves a favor and watch this movie!
One of those overlooked Films in Cinema History, Honest, multi-layered and amazingly contemporary, this is one of those movies that have admirably stood the test of time, add to that Winning the prestigious Palm d'Or at Cannes 1962.
A shame such an important movie has no poster here on IMDb. I wanted to add the one that is used on Wikipedia, but I would have to pay to do that. Strange. (Edit: it has a poster now.)
If you are critical of religion fanaticism, you must see this movie! It shows what can become of fanatic people, how lack of education plays an important role in fanaticism, the arrogance of the church and the hypocrisy of our society.
Zé do Burro (Joe of the Donkey) has the soul of a child. He is a good guy, but extremely naive. His naivety is shamelessly exploited, and people cruelly distort his good intentions, making an evil person out of him, when all he wanted was to do good.
The movie won the Golden Palm in Cannes and other prizes. It's a classic. Dialogs are a bit theatrical (only if you understand Portuguese), but so they used to be that time. A movie that will get under your skin.
If you are critical of religion fanaticism, you must see this movie! It shows what can become of fanatic people, how lack of education plays an important role in fanaticism, the arrogance of the church and the hypocrisy of our society.
Zé do Burro (Joe of the Donkey) has the soul of a child. He is a good guy, but extremely naive. His naivety is shamelessly exploited, and people cruelly distort his good intentions, making an evil person out of him, when all he wanted was to do good.
The movie won the Golden Palm in Cannes and other prizes. It's a classic. Dialogs are a bit theatrical (only if you understand Portuguese), but so they used to be that time. A movie that will get under your skin.
It is not a surprise that this movie won the golden palm in Cannes. The story of the man that carry a big and heavy cross as a promise for the healing of his donkey is the simpliest and the most beautiful. The poetic way as it is shown became the film an unforgettable classic, with Zé as the protagonist. For sure, technically it is a pre-historic film, the sound quality and editing is really bad, but it even help the audience to focus what really cares. That is not only about poverty, but about humanity. If you liked Central Station, you can't miss.
This great film, received the principal prize in Cannes and it is one of the best Brazilian films of all the times. A simple man, whose donkey was sick, gets its cure and he decides like this to pay a promise Saint Barbra, to who attributed the salvation of the animal.
Main representative of the brazilian "Cinema Novo" , the film is based on an exceptional play, and it is a realistic film, very well interpreted and driven, and it shows one on the most dramatic sides of the Brazilian people: the fidelity in paying a promise, cost what to cost!
Main representative of the brazilian "Cinema Novo" , the film is based on an exceptional play, and it is a realistic film, very well interpreted and driven, and it shows one on the most dramatic sides of the Brazilian people: the fidelity in paying a promise, cost what to cost!
Did you know
- TriviaFirst Brazilian film to be nominated for an Oscar.
- ConnectionsEdited into A Edição do Nordeste (2023)
- How long is The Given Word?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Payer of Promises
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $8,229
- Runtime
- 1h 38m(98 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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