Bacurau

Bacurau

It appears that films about class and inequality are having their moment. From “Knives Out” at home to “Parasite” overseas, these movies force us to see the haves and the have nots in black and white. “Knives Out” asks questions of privilege while nativist indifference towards workers and immigrants is at play in “Parasite,” which tells a thrillingly suspenseful story about two families one rich, one poor whose lives intertwine. Juliano Dornelles’ and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s latest film, “Bacurau,” fits nicely into this trend but takes it further by condemning colonialism’s enduring effects, corrupt politicians and US imperialism through a fight-to-the-death bloodbath.

In a remote corner of Brazil in the near future lies Bacurau, an arid but tree-lined town where Teresa (Bárbara Colen) grows up. She returns home for her grandmother’s funeral only to be disturbed by strange happenings that also unsettle her neighbors. Water has been cut off from the city for months now but the trucker bringing them supplies gets his rig shot at. Suddenly maps and GPS stop showing the town altogether. Cell phone service disappears. A UFO is spotted by one villager while an odd couple of strangers bike through town Are they under attack?

The answer is somewhat of a spoiler so I warn anyone who wants to go into “Bacurau” blind to stop reading here; otherwise carry on.

Dornelles’ and Mendonça Filho’s script for this movie does a superb job balancing politics with story almost lulling viewers into thinking it will be about quirky characters such as deep-voiced DJ who acts as crier from his mobile set of speakers or stern-faced Domingas (Sônia Braga), who first appears in drunken rage hurling insults at Teresa’s recently departed grandmother while dressed as doctor or old flame Pacote (Thomas Aquino) or teacher father with adorable children in his classroom or mulleted fugitive fighter Lunga (Silvero Pereira) who later orders townsfolk around or even corrupt politician Tony Junior (Thardelly Lima) neglecting care for either Town or its people.

But the politician’s ineptitude and callousness are just warm-up acts before real villains: Michael (Udo Kier), steely-eyed leader of pack bloodthirsty westerners who’ve chosen poor little Bacurau as their personal shooting range. Without sacrificing an inch of narrative pace, Bacurau brilliantly lays bare these villains’ open contempt for human life coupled with racism underlying everything they do which makes them allegorical stand-ins for ruthless businesses that have come bleed Brazil dry while letting its people starve namely white invaders who don’t consider light-skinned Brazilians trying to ingratiate themselves into their cohort equal mixed-race town like Bacurau barely more than target to armed hunting party led by eyes like icicles Michael Udo Kier chilling metaphor working on all levels

In “Bacurau,” cinematographer Pedro Sotero takes a colorful spin on “Seven Samurai,” but there are no seasoned fighters coming to the rescue. Instead, the villagers must take up arms against invading forces and unscrupulous politicians who will sell them out. Rita Azevedo’s costumes go from matriarchs’ white coats or dresses to townsfolk’s mismatched multicolor tank tops and camo gear worn by hobby hunters in dress-up to Lunga’s “Mad Max” meets club wear vibe.

Editor Eduardo Serrano’s mesmerizing and disquieting cuts feature quick edits of villagers doing drugs interspersed throughout tense moments and slow moments in the film. Soundtrack duo Mateus Alves and Tomaz Alves Souza blend electronic sounds with Brazilian music for an eclectic collection that enhances the movie’s sense of place and futurism.

“Bacurau” seizes every opportunity to make an impression on its audience. Whether it is capturing beautiful sweeping shots of the area or watching a battle of wills between Braga and Kier, the viewer is always meant to be entertained and thinking.

There is rage in this movie from start to finish. It’s mad at loss, mad at failed government officials (a pointed message considering Brazil’s current heated conservative leadership), mad at the brutality brought by well-healed outsiders to their doorstep. But there is strength in numbers, power in community among so much oppression a reverberating message through it all that needs no translation, one we may catch in more films protesting inequality.

Watch Bacurau For Free On Gomovies.