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The Angel Was Born

Name: The Angel Was Born
Director: Júlio Bressane
Released: 1969
Duration: 64 min

Representation Score

5.2/10

Fair

1969

Director

Júlio Bressane

Runtime

64 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Júlio Bressane’s work is rooted in the radical Cinema Marginal movement, which seeks to disrupt social and cinematic hierarchies. This intent is most visible in the film's racial dynamics, where the partnership between Santamaria and Urtigo challenges mid-century racial clichés by giving the Black character a significant role in driving the story and ingenuity. However, the film struggles with gendered roles, as the female presence is relegated to the role of a kidnapped victim. The lack of explicit LGBTQ+ themes or disability representation further limits the scope of its social critique. Ultimately, the film succeeds as a critique of institutional morality and traditional social structures, using its outlaws to bypass established state-sanctioned truths.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Angel Was Born have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit representations of LGBTQ+ identities or relationships that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight. The story focuses solely on the central duo and their captives.

How does The Angel Was Born portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on male protagonists and their criminal actions. The female character appears mainly as a passive victim of kidnapping.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Angel Was Born?

Excellent

The film disrupts traditional hierarchies by pairing a white protagonist with a Black companion known for his ingenuity. This dynamic moves away from reductive stereotypes.

How does The Angel Was Born represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critiques state institutions through its outlaw protagonists. Santamaria’s mystical visions introduce a framework of subjective, non-traditional spirituality.

Does The Angel Was Born include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

The pairing of a white protagonist and a Black companion disrupts traditional racial hierarchies.
The Black character is portrayed with ingenuity and ability to act rather than through reductive stereotypes.
The narrative uses mystical visions and outlaw status to critique established social and religious institutions.

Limited or Absent

The female character has little control over what happens to them, serving primarily as a passive victim in the plot.
There is an absence of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight themes.
The film provides no representation of characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Santamaria and Urtigo are two bandits on the run, one is white, the other black. Santamaria is a mystical visionary and believes in the imminent coming of a purifying angel. Urtiga, his inseparable companion, is a simple-minded and ingenious man who follows Santamaria around and participates in the crimes he commits. The two bandits take over a house after kidnapping its owner and his girlfriend.

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