| O Dragão da Maldade Contra o Santo Guerreiro | |
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A poster with one of the film's alternative titles: Antônio das Mortes |
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| Directed by | Glauber Rocha |
| Starring | Othon Bastos Maurício do Valle |
| Release date(s) | 1969 |
| Country | Brazil |
| Language | Portuguese |
O Dragão da Maldade Contra o Santo Guerreiro (The Dragon of Evil Against the Warrior Saint also known as Antônio das Mortes) is a 1969 Brazilian film directed by Glauber Rocha. This sequel to Black God, White Devil stars Othon Bastos, Odete Lara and Hugo Carvana. It features the return of the character Antonio das Mortes, now as the protagonist, again played by Maurício do Valle.
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A tale of class conflict in an historical Brazilian setting, there is much more meaning (and absurdity) woven into the plot than is represented here. Antonio das Mortes is a legendary and brooding man with a troubled past that haunts him and keeps him in need of an enemy to fight against. Working for the landed nobility, he is sent to kill Coirana, the last canguaceiro (a "bandit" on the side of the people) of a Bahia inland city. He kills Coirana, but is changed by his experiences with the poor, and so Antonio das Mortes then demands that the colonel (a blind and wealthy man who owns much land) distribute the food stored in a warehouse to the remaining canguaceiros. The colonel raged and sent Mata Vaca (Cow Butcher) to kill Antônio das Mortes. But Antonio das Mortes with the help of his friend "Professor" kills Mata Vaca and his jagunços (hired gunmen). The colonel is killed by a local. The movie ends with Antonio das Mortes walking by the roadside, carrying on the struggle - in some ways hopeless or unending - which extends beyond the killing of the colonel and the expropriation of his land.
Rocha the award for Best Director at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.[1] It was chosen by the Ministry of Culture to represent Brazil in the 42nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.[2]