Besouro

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It's forbidden

because I'm a boy.

It's forbidden

because I'm poor.

It's forbidden

because I'm black.

Boy, one day

you'll grow up.

Poor? Well, tomorrow

you may be rich.

Now, you're black for life,

my son.

Black and proud of it.

And don't let anyone

diminish you.

Will you teach me

how to fight, master?

I've been learning

Capoeira for 50 years.

To teach you all of it,

it will take another 50 years.

Come here,

who taught you

how to walk?

- My mom and my dad.

- No, Manoel.

Your body

taught you how to walk.

You've started walking

here and there...

Manoel,

leave that beetle alone!

People don't realize

this beetle can fly.

He's heavy

and his wings are thin.

Even science is sure

this beetle can't fly,

but...

Iook how wonderful it is.

When the boy's eyes

lit up watching

that beetle,

as black as himself,

but having

the ability to fly,

he made a choice.

The choice

to fight for his people.

And he stopped

being Manoel

to become Besouro.

Besouro

Golden belt

A JOO DANIEL TIKHOMIROFF FILM

Besouro

A JOO DANIEL TIKHOMIROFF FILM

Golden Belt

Recncavo Baiano,

Brazil abolished slavery

less than 40 years ago,

and black people

are still treated as slaves.

African religions

are restrained

and Capoeira

is outlawed.

Black people

start to get organized

to demand their rights.

At the Recncavo

Master Alpio is the leader

of the black community.

Due to his struggle,

Master Alpio

is sworn to death

and gets protection

from Capoeira fighters

and his main protg,

Besouro.

JANUARY 21, 1924

- Good morning, Master Alpio.

- Good morning.

Go for it, Besouro!

Besouro, shouldn't you

be protecting Master Alpio?

Good morning, master.

- 'Morning.

- How do you do?

We can't rely on you, man.

Don't stop the music.

Come on, play it.

Let's practice.

- Good morning, master.

- Good morning.

Hi, boys.

Do it.

You're so handsome!

Come on.

Let's go.

Yes, sir.

Very good!

Besouro!

Besouro! Besouro!

Master Alpio isn't home.

Master?

- Master?

- Master!

Besouro,

take me

to the old slave house.

Just you.

It was my fault, master.

This was bound to happen.

No, master.

I chose you...

to continue...

what I started.

Colonel...

Noca,

move this filth

off of my way.

Genival and Serafim,

get him out of here.

- Moron, bastard.

- Amaro,

serve me a dose.

That's a nice berimbau.

It belongs to Dinor.

You'll end up

marrying her.

We always liked

each other, Chico.

Since we were kids.

Since you

were called "Z",

Besouro was "Manoel",

and Dinor was a tomboy

playing over there

in the mud.

That's your opinion.

For me,

she's always been gorgeous.

She looked like a goddess...

with her curly hair.

How about Besouro?

What about him?

He must be in great pain.

We all are.

The people, and all of us.

But Besouro even more.

He knows what he's done.

Besouro...

what a proud fella.

Will Besouro come

to the master's tribute?

He'd better not.

Master Alpio

here's my lament

Pray for our bonding's

strength

You taught us to be proud

And to have no fear at all

Our race's greatness

Capoeira bonds us all

Set free

Our hearts

Go.

- Master Alpio, here's my lament

- Let's go.

- For our master.

- Pray for our bonding's strength

You taught us to be proud

And to have no fear at all

Our race's greatness

Capoeira bonds us all

Set our hearts free

And to have no fear at all

Enough of this,

bunch of lowlifes!

It's forbidden to fight

in these domains!

Get out of here.

Everybody quiet!

I thought you were a literate man,

Noca de Antnia.

Who said

this is fighting?

Capoeira is a dance.

Look who's talking!

It's the fish

stinking n*gger!

Is it a dance,

fish stench?

Your leaps and mummeries

are a dance?

- Then you're forbidden to dance.

- Under whose orders?

- Who?

- I will show you.

Beat up the n*ggers!

Go! Go! Go!

Run!

What are you thinking?

That your dance scares us?

Your make-believe fight?

These n*ggers

are just pretenders!

They came up with Capoeira

to scare cowards off!

Are you performing

a Gathering?

Are you wearing

the old man's shoes?

In a n*gger's grave

- we can fit 2 or 3.

- F*** off, Noca.

F*** off.

- Big man with a gun!

- This?

There you go,

I'm unarmed.

Now I'll disarm you

so we'll know who's brave.

You are wasting your time, Noca.

I don't carry a gun.

You have a different

kind of gun, n*gger.

Dance now, n*gger.

Let's go.

Hold on tight, Chico.

Olorum Ojubar.

Ossaim Ojubar.

Hold on, Chico.

Hold on, you're strong.

Chico, soon the pain

will fade away.

Let us practice,

let us practice.

The Blessing,

the Cartwheel,

the Warned,

the Half-Moon

in a Compass.

The Hammer kick...

You're getting good,

Quero-Quero.

You're getting good.

Let's practice.

- Master, may I practice?

- Yes, Dinor.

- Yes.

- That one?

- No!

- Off course you can.

Let's practice.

Hold on, Quero-Quero.

Hold on, hold on.

Get up, Besouro.

What's going on?

You must learn something.

Alone, you can be strong

and brave,

but two are stronger.

And three, even stronger.

Together we are

very strong.

And don't let anything

split you up.

Anything.

Noca is a coward.

If the master was here,

this wouldn't have happened.

He knew how to make them

respect us.

That's true.

Besouro screwed up, honey.

It wasn't his fault.

May I walk you home?

There's no need for that.

I need to be alone

for a while.

To think about

what's going on.

I'm going

to take care of you.

Take care of yourself.

Clear the way!

Let's go!

Go!

Let's go!

Get to work!

Put the millstone in gear.

Come on!

People are saying

after the old man died

he ran to the forest.

Why did he leave?

He yellowed.

The black man

turned yellow.

Everything

is alright now.

There are no

more Gatherings

and no more

berimbau playing.

The n*ggers are carrying loads

and pulling rigs now.

Everything is quiet now.

Much too quiet.

Come in.

Close the door.

Don't be afraid, Besouro.

You were supposed

to take care of the master.

But you were showing off.

You want me to defend

the city from the colonel?

I'm not ready yet, Dinor.

You'll never be ready.

You are ready to meet the one

who will show you the way.

Chico,

that's Exu's offering.

Didn't you see what just

happened to Master Alpio?

Don't you know

fighting is banned?

It wasn't

the fighting, mom.

It was because

of his ideas.

I'll go ahead to start

working on the kitchen, OK?

- I'll pick up the rest of the stuff.

- OK.

Blessings, lady.

God bless you, sweetie.

I'd like some

of that strong pepper.

This one burns like fire.

Jesus, Zulmira,

what's wrong?

- Howdy.

- Howdy.

Alright?

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

Look, Zulmira,

Besouro is back.

When did you

catch that fish?

Early today.

It's very fresh.

How about you?

Are you very fresh?

Are you looking for trouble

this early?

Who's that fella

over there with Chico?

What fella?

What are you doing, man?

What are you doing?

You can't do that

in my fish stand.

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