O Auto da Compadecida

O Auto da Compadecida ("The Compassionate Self", released in English as A Dog's Will) is a 2000 Brazilian comedy film, directed by Guel Arraes, with a screenplay by Arraes and Adriana Falcão. It is based on the 1955 play of almost the same name by Ariano Suassuna, with elements of The Ghost and the Sow, and Torture of a Heart,plays both also by Suassuna.

Synopsis

The plot concerns the adventures of João Grilo (Matheus Natchergaele) and Chico (Selton Mello), the most cowardly of men. Both struggle for daily bread and go through several episodes fooling all of the small town they live in, until they get through their confusion the wrath of the dreaded bandit Severino de Aracaju (Marco Nanini) and his gang. João is shot dead, and as Chico buries him, João is seem in the hereafter, matching wits the Devil (Luis Melo), and asking the Virgin Mary (Fernanda Montenegro) to intercede for him.

Reception

The film was critical and commercial success in Brazil and some South American countries like Chile and Venezuela. The film was not as well-received in English-speaking countries.

External links

• A Dog's Will at the Internet Movie Database
• Dog's Will/ O Auto da Compadecida at Rotten Tomatoes