Barren Lives (Vidas Secas)

THIS FILM IS NOT JUST A FAITHFUL TRANSPOSITION

OF AN IMMORTAL WORK OF BRAZILIAN LITERATURE.

IT IS ABOVE ALL A TESTIMONY ABOUT THE DRAMATIC

SOCIAL REALITY OF OUR TIMES AND THE EXTREME MISERY

THAT ENSLAVES 27 MILLION NORTHEASTERNERS AND

THAT NO DECENT BRAZILIAN CAN IGNORE ANY LONGER.

BARREN LIVES

Anyway, it was worthless.

Couldn't even speak.

There... there ain't much.

Get up.

It's crazy to go on.

We'll never get there.

We'll never get there this way.

You're so stubborn.

Try going back. There's no end to it.

We should have arrived at midday.

The sand's hard on the feet.

Keep walking, you lazy critter!

Come on! It's there!

It's going to rain.

God willing and the Holy Virgin too!

It's a sturdy house.

Good pasture.

Good for fattening up.

Good pasture.

What happened to Tomás?

He went out on his own, like us.

Think he took everything with him?

I bet he left the grinding wheel.

Think he took the leather bed?

It was so lovely.

So soft and cozy in the corner of the room.

Tomás of the sugar-mill had the best.

Tomás was a worthy man.

Nice smell of tanned leather.

All it needed was a bit of lace

and it would look like a chapel.

A man of letters.

He always said the right things

even when it was going to rain.

He knew how to do things.

He could always mend everything

even other people's lives.

Even that! But he could never forgive the drought.

The farm has died without Tomás and the mill.

On day we'll have a leather bed like Tomás's.

Get your tools and go back.

I don't want anybody here.

I told you to leave! And now!

I'm a good cowhand.

I'm a good cowhand.

I can do anything.

Maybe...

Are these your men? That's all?

And the dog. I'll do any job.

How much do you charge?

My usual. One calf of each four born.

A quarter's fine. You can stay.

Let's go, girl!

Spotty... you'll grow, my lovely!

100,000 réis per head.

Isn't that fair?

The boss says it's 100,000 per head.

The money will do to settle accounts with the boss.

We'll buy the leather for the bed with what's left over,

just like Tomás's.

We could spend less.

Yes. We'll spend less.

We'll sleep in a leather bed.

We'll be real dandies!

Do you want to settle today?

How much do I owe you?

Well... I mean...

Get the book. It's on top of the desk.

Sorry, but that's not quite enough.

No, it's right.

What my wife said is more. There must be some mistake.

It's the interest.

Haven't I been lending you money all year?

There's no mistake.

My wife knows her business.

She knows accounts. That's not enough.

Here's your pay. There's no more.

This isn't right! I'm no slave!

There are no slaves here. Take your money.

Otherwise, look for work elsewhere.

I don't employ impertinent upstarts!

No need for arguments.

Sorry, I didn't mean it. It was my wife's fault, Boss.

I can't read. She told me, it was that.

And I believed her.

All right, Fabiano. Get to work.

But I won't fall for it again. Sorry, sir.

I tell you Manezinho's wife betrayed him.

I tried her, but she wouldn't.

Do you have the tax form?

You have to pay taxes, you know.

Never heard of taxes.

Is this pig yours?

Is it for sale? Then you must pay taxes.

But that's not a pig.

It's a bit of a pig.

If you sell, you pay tax, you trickster!

You offend me!

Sorry. I thought I could just sell off my belongings.

I didn't know about no taxes.

Well, now you know.

I didn't know the Town Hall owned part of my pig.

But as you said, it's over.

I'll give the meat to my family. Can I eat the meat?

Can I, or not?

Stop gabbing and go home!

Come on! Don't dirty your clothes.

Give me one.

How much?

400 réis.

Why do you water it all down?

See you later.

The party'll be good?

Shall we play a hand inside?

Yes or no.

Let's see.

Go away... There's people here. Sit down.

Take another.

Give another.

Give another.

What's the card? Turn it over.

- Whose turn? - Wait a minute.

Hold on, mister.

You have no right to harass the law-abiding.

Back off, you low-down critter!

That's no way to treat your partners,

to turn away and leave.

Is it my fault you threw in all your belongings?

That's bad manners.

Please take your foot away.

Son of a bitch!

Mummy, where's Baleia?

I don't know.

Has Baleia come back?

Neither has Father.

He resisted arrest and insulted me in front of everybody.

He must learn not to poke fun at the authorities.

Hand over the civilian.

Shut up!

Bastard! Scum of the earth!

Where's Baleia, Mum?