OS PASTORES DA NOITES (OTALIA DE BAHIA)

Brazil, 1975, 121 minutes, Colour.
Mira Fonseca, Antonio Pitanga, Maria Viana.
Directed by Marcel Camus.

Pastores Da Noites is an exuberant film. It was written and directed by Marcel Camus who had made the even more exuberant Black Orpheus. Black Orpheus and this film exalt the poor of the province of Bahia in Brazil. It is done with music and dance – as well as a basic story. There is some criticism that it is a romanticising of the poor. On the other hand, these films are optimistic celebrations of human nature.

The film has an emphasis on the indigenous religions of the region, the various superstitions and voodoo-style ceremonies. It raises issues of the role of Christianity and the role of the clergy as well as the effect of religion on people. It is also a world of evil, especially of prostitution and pimps – and a focus on a central character, Otalia, within this context.

While there is a pathos about poverty and death, the film is only a partial portrait of Latin America – but is also a celebratory fable.

1. The attractiveness of the film? Brazilian atmosphere, musical, melodrama? The reputation of director Marcel Camus? An attempt to repeat the style for which he was famous? Success?

2. The importance of colour, music and song, the atmosphere of Bahia, of Brazil? How strong was the atmosphere of Brazil In colour, light, sounds, people, locations of city, countryside? Characters seen in their environment?

3. How realistically should the film have been appreciated? How much a fable, how much a fantasy? Comedy, tragedy?

4. How successful was the film in building up the atmosphere of Bahia, the various people that are presented, the detail of their personalities and way of life, their spirit, the good, the bad, interactions, joys, clashes, death? The general spirit of joy?

5. The religious background of the film: the emphasis on indigenous religion, superstitions, voodoo style ceremonies? The tradition of Christianity? Their being blended in ceremonies, superstitions? The old women who supervised these rites? The role of the clergy? The influence of religion on the people? Their religious and superstitious mentalities governing the way they understood events? Themselves?

6. The world of prostitution, pimps, ordinary workers? Otalia within this context?

7. The importance of the world of the ordinary people of provincial cities in Brazil, their work, celebration, dance? Attitude towards life, love, sexuality, violence?

8. The experience of rivalries, violence, having to cope with life and day by day situations?

9. How attractive a character was Otalia within this context? Her origins, coming to Bahia, her personality, charm, seeming innocence despite her prostitution? A symbol for the innocence of Brazil? A mixed innocence? Her experience, her love, her disillusionment, disappointment, death? How important were the mythical overtones of her death?

10. The hero in his situation, love for Otalia, plight, clashes and confusions? The mythical background of his disappointment? How much communication between the two in song and dance?

11. The theme of people trapped by their environment? Pathos of life, of poverty, of death?

12. The film as a partial portrait of Latin America? Latin American issues, personalities, themes? How much insight into this world via the fable, the visual presentation, the communication of song and dance?