A poor family in the Northeast of Brazil (Fabiano, the father; Sinhá Vitória, the mother; their 2 children and a dog called Baleia) wander about the barren land searching for a better place to live, with food and work. But the drought and misery destroy their hopes.
Director: Nelson Pereira dos Santos. AKA Barren Lives
Writers: Nelson Pereira dos Santos, Graciliano Ramos (novel).
Stars: Átila Iório, Maria Ribeiro, Orlando Macedo, Joffre Soares, Gilvan Lima, Genivaldo Lima.
Cinematographers: Luiz Carlos Barreto, José Rosa.
Composer: Leonardo Alencar.
1964 Cannes Film Festival – Nominated for the Palme d’Or.
Poverty, bad luck, drought and unscrupulous townsfolk take its toll on a family trying to make dead ends meet. In terms of direction and script, no loose ends or happy ending. 3.8