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The Third Bank of the River

Name: The Third Bank of the River
Director: Nelson Pereira dos Santos
Released: 1994
Duration: 99 min

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

1994

Director

Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Runtime

99 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Nelson Pereira dos Santos creates a significant work of regionalist cinema that challenges Western storytelling traditions. Through the use of magical realism, the film shifts away from rigid storytelling towards a postmodern exploration of existence. The film's strength lies in its authentic representation of Brazilian culture and its critique of societal and religious institutions. It prioritizes a localized, mythic exploration of the Brazilian landscape over conventional storytelling norms. However, the film remains tied to traditional patriarchal structures. The central conflicts are heavily influenced by male-driven tensions, and the lack of diverse identity representation limits its broader social relevance.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Third Bank of the River have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

There are no queer narratives or non-cisgender identities in the film. The story focuses on the breakdown of a traditional family unit.

How does The Third Bank of the River portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around the impact of a father's absence on the family. Women play important roles in managing emotions, but the main conflicts are driven by male characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Third Bank of the River?

Good

The film highlights the unique identity of rural Brazil. It uses a local cast to bring the story to life with authentic regional flavor.

How does The Third Bank of the River represent religion and culture?

Good

Magical realism is employed to mock religious beliefs. A young girl is portrayed as a saint to criticize dogma rather than promote it.

Does The Third Bank of the River include disability representation?

Minimal

The film explores metaphysical and psychological themes. However, there are no characters with specific physical or neurological disabilities.

Present on Screen

Authentic portrayal of regional Brazilian identity and cultural landscapes.
Sophisticated use of magical realism to critique religious dogma.
Effective exploration of the theme of paternal absence.

Limited or Absent

Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
Central conflicts are heavily driven by male figures, limiting female influence.
No characters with visible physical or neurological disabilities.

Official Synopsis

After an extended period directing original screenplays, dos Santos returned to the creative engagement with literature that was the wellspring of his early masterpieces, offering a combinatory adaptation of five stories by the renowned Brazilian novelist João Guimarães Rosa. Openly embracing a mode of magical realism, dos Santos' celebrated film tells the story of a farming family defined by the absence of its father who abruptly abandoned his wife and children, sailing away down the river, including his son who continues to communicate with his father, speaking daily to him from the river bank. While offering an evocative vision of rural Brazil as a timeless land of mystery and solemnity, The Third Bank of the River is also bitingly satiric in the remarkable depiction of religious belief when the family moves to the city and its youngest member, a mesmerizing little girl, is revealed to be a kind of saint, capable of miraculous acts. -Harvard Film Archive

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