Xica

Xica
Directed by	Carlos Diegues
Produced by	Jarbas Barbosa Airton Correa Hélio Ferraz José Oliosi
Written by	Antonio Callado Carlos Diegues
Based on	Xica da Silva by João Felício dos Santos
Starring	Zezé Motta Walmor Chagas José Wilker Elke Maravilha Stepan Nercessian
Music by	Jorge Ben Jor Roberto Menescal
Cinematography	José Medeiros
Edited by	Mair Tavares
Production company	J.B. Produções Distrifilmes
Distributed by	Embrafilme
Release dates	September 6, 1976 (1976-09-06)[1]
Running time	107 minutes
Country	Brazil
Language	Portuguese

Xica (Portuguese: Xica da Silva) is a 1976 Brazilian comedy film directed and written by Carlos Diegues, based on the novel by João Felício dos Santos, which is a romanticized retelling of the true story of Chica da Silva,^[2] an 18th-century African slave in Brazil, who attracts the attention of a powerful Portuguese land-owner and eventually rises into the Brazilian high society. The movie stars Zezé Motta, Walmor Chagas and José Wilker. It was chosen as the Brazilian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 49th Academy Awards, but it failed to get a nomination.^[3]

Plot

The film is based on the novel Memórias do Distrito de Diamantina, written by João Felicio dos Santos (who has a small role in the film as a Roman Catholic pastor). It is a romanticized retelling of the true story of Chica da Silva,^[4] an 18th-century African slave in the state of Minas Gerais, who attracts the attention of João Fernandes de Oliveira, a Portuguese sent by Lisbon with the Crown's exclusive contract for mining diamonds, and eventually becomes his lover, rises into power and into the Brazilian high society of the time. Moreover, João quickly lets the intendant and other authorities know that he can be bribed, and gets onto their corruption scheme. Eventually Lisbon hears of João's (and Xica's) excesses and sends an inspector. José, a political radical, is another main character, who provides Xica refuge.

Cast

• Zezé Motta as Xica da Silva
• Walmor Chagas as João Fernandes
• Altair Lima as Intendent
• Elke Maravilha as Hortência
• Stepan Nercessian as José
• Rodolfo Arena as Sargeant
• José Wilker as The Count of Valadares
• Marcos Vinicius as Teodoro
• João Felicio dos Santos as pastor

TV adaptation

In 1996, the now defunct TV station Rede Manchete successfully adapted the film plot to the telenovela format, directed by Walter Avancini, written by Walcyr Carrasco and starring Taís Araújo as the title character. This telenovela marked the first time an Afro-Brazilian actress played the lead role on a TV show. In 2005, SBT re-aired Xica da Silva.

See also

• List of submissions to the 49th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Brazilian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References

Gordon, Richard (2005). "Allegories of Resistance and Reception in Xica da Silva". Luso-Brazilian Review. 42 (1): 44–60. JSTOR 3514051.  |access-date= requires |url= (help)

External links

• Xica at the Internet Movie Database
• Xica at AllMovie