The Angel Was Born (1969)
A searing, experimental landmark of Brazilian marginal cinema that confronts violence, mysticism, and social inequality with uncompromising rawness.
The Angel Was Born - Movie Information
- Original Title: O Anjo Nasceu
- Release Year: 1969
- Directed by: Júlio Bressane
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Runtime: 1h 4m
- Original Language: Portuguese
- Spoken Languages: Portuguese
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 12, 1969 (Brazil)
- Production Companies: Julio Bressane Produções Cinematográficas
- Production Countries: Brazil
The Angel Was Born - Plot
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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The Angel Was Born - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Júlio Bressane
Main Cast
- Hugo Carvana
- Milton Gonçalves
- Norma Bengell
- Maria Gladys
- Neville D'Almeida
- Carlos Guimas
- Guará Rodrigues
- Richard Nixon
Writers
- Júlio Bressane
Producers
- Júlio Bressane
The Angel Was Born - FAQs
What is The Angel Was Born about?
The Angel Was Born follows Santamaria and Urtiga, two fugitive bandits — one white, one Black — who terrorize the Brazilian countryside. Santamaria is a mystical visionary awaiting a purifying angel, while the simple-minded Urtiga loyally follows him. Together they seize a home, holding its owner and girlfriend captive in a brutal, experimental portrait of violence.
Who directed The Angel Was Born?
The Angel Was Born was directed by Júlio Bressane, one of the most radical and influential figures in Brazilian underground cinema. He also wrote and produced the film, making it a deeply personal work that helped define the Cinema Marginal movement of the late 1960s.
What is Cinema Marginal and how does this film fit?
Cinema Marginal was a Brazilian avant-garde movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s that rejected mainstream conventions in favor of raw, low-budget, politically charged filmmaking. The Angel Was Born is considered a foundational text of the movement, embracing experimental structure, social critique, and unflinching depictions of violence.
Who are the main actors in The Angel Was Born?
The film stars Hugo Carvana as the mystical bandit Santamaria and Milton Gonçalves as his loyal companion Urtiga. The cast also includes Norma Bengell, Maria Gladys, Neville D'Almeida, Carlos Guimas, and Guará Rodrigues, alongside archive footage of Richard Nixon.
Is The Angel Was Born based on a true story?
The Angel Was Born is not based on a specific true story. However, it draws heavily on the social realities of Brazil in the late 1960s, channeling the country's political repression, inequality, and cultural tensions into a fictional but deeply symbolic narrative of crime and mysticism.
What genre is The Angel Was Born?
The Angel Was Born is classified as a Crime Drama, though it transcends genre conventions. It incorporates experimental and avant-garde filmmaking techniques, functioning simultaneously as a social critique, a philosophical meditation on violence, and a raw document of Brazilian society under military dictatorship.
How long is The Angel Was Born?
The Angel Was Born has a runtime of 64 minutes. Despite its brevity, the film is dense with atmosphere and provocation, using its compact running time to deliver an intense, unrelenting experience that leaves a lasting impression on viewers drawn to challenging, unconventional cinema.
What are films similar to The Angel Was Born?
Viewers who appreciate The Angel Was Born may also enjoy High and Low (1963) by Akira Kurosawa, Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), I Vitelloni (1953) by Federico Fellini, The Hurt Locker (2008), and Blood on the Mountain (1974) — films that share its interest in crime, social tension, and morally complex characters.
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