Conjugal Warfare (1975)

A darkly comic Brazilian anthology dissecting the misery and absurdity of couples who hate each other — yet stay together anyway.

Conjugal Warfare - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Guerra Conjugal
  • Release Year: 1975
  • Directed by: Joaquim Pedro de Andrade
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Comedy
  • Runtime: 1h 29m
  • Original Language: Portuguese
  • Spoken Languages: Portuguese
  • Release Date (Theatrical): May 1, 1975 (Brazil)
  • Alternative Titles: Guerre conjugale (FR)
  • Production Companies: Filmes do Serro
  • Production Countries: Brazil

Conjugal Warfare - Plot

Many stories revolving around a poor couple who, in spite of hating each other, still live together under the same roof.

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Conjugal Warfare - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade

Main Cast

  • Lima Duarte
  • Jofre Soares
  • Carmem Silva
  • Carlos Gregório
  • Ítala Nandi
  • Analú Prestes
  • Carlos Kroeber
  • Cristina Aché
  • Dirce Migliaccio
  • Elza Gomes

Writers

  • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade

Producers

  • Joaquim Pedro de Andrade

Conjugal Warfare - FAQs

What is Conjugal Warfare about?

Conjugal Warfare is a darkly comic Brazilian anthology film that follows several couples — most of them poor and miserable — who can't stand each other yet refuse to part ways. Through interconnected vignettes, Joaquim Pedro de Andrade skewers marriage, class, and the absurdity of domestic life with biting wit.

Is Conjugal Warfare based on a book or source material?

Yes — the film draws from the short stories of Dalton Trevisan, one of Brazil's most celebrated writers of dark, sardonic fiction. Trevisan's tales of bickering couples in Curitiba provided the perfect raw material for Andrade's caustic, episodic portrait of marital dysfunction.

Where can you watch Conjugal Warfare online?

You can find current streaming and viewing options for Conjugal Warfare on JustWatch, which lists all available platforms in your region. Availability may vary depending on your country, so checking there is the easiest way to find where it's currently playing.

Who directed Conjugal Warfare and what else did he make?

Joaquim Pedro de Andrade directed the film. He's one of the key figures of Cinema Novo, Brazil's landmark new-wave movement. His most celebrated work is Macunaíma (1969), a wildly inventive satirical comedy that became a touchstone of Brazilian cinema. Conjugal Warfare shares that film's sharp social edge.

Who are the main actors in Conjugal Warfare?

The ensemble cast includes Lima Duarte as Dr. Osíris, Jofre Soares as Joãozinho, Carmem Silva as Amália, Ítala Nandi as Olga, and Dirce Migliaccio as D. Laura, among others. Lima Duarte and Jofre Soares were both well-known faces in Brazilian film and television at the time.

Is Conjugal Warfare a comedy or a drama?

It's firmly a comedy — but a dark and biting one. The film uses absurdist humor and satirical exaggeration to expose the cruelty and tedium lurking inside everyday relationships. Think less romantic comedy and more caustic social critique wrapped in laughs. It's funny precisely because it's so painfully honest.

How long is Conjugal Warfare?

Conjugal Warfare runs 89 minutes — a tight, well-paced runtime that suits its anthology format perfectly. The episodic structure keeps things moving briskly, with each vignette offering a fresh set of characters and a new angle on the film's central theme of domestic misery.

How was Conjugal Warfare received by critics?

The film is regarded as a sharp and accomplished entry in Joaquim Pedro de Andrade's filmography and in Brazilian cinema more broadly. Critics have praised its wit, its fidelity to Dalton Trevisan's literary spirit, and its unflinching look at class and gender dynamics in 1970s Brazil.

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