Tuesday, April 21, 2020

April 21 - Anselmo Duarte


Happy Birthday, Anselmo Duarte! Born today in 1920 as Anselmo Duarte Bento, this Brazilian actor, screenwriter, producer and film director is known, among his credits, for his second feature as a filmmaker. 
  
This was for writing and directing the 1962 Brazilian black and white drama film 'O Pagador de Promessas' ('Keeper of Promises' or 'The Given Word'). The film was based off of Brazilian playwright Alfredo de Freitas Dias Gomes' eponymous play. 
  
The film follows  do Burro (Leonardo Villar), also known as Donkey Jack. He considers his donkey to be his best friend. 

However, when the beast of burden falls ill,  swears an oath that if his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross across the country and give his land to the poor. 
  
The film later won the Golden Palm at the 15th Cannes Film Festival in May of that same year, becoming, to date, the only Brazilian feature film to be so distinguished. 

It was also and still remains the first winner of the Cannes' Southern Hemisphere Golden Palm for best feature film, as well as being an important work of the Cinema Novo movement. 
  
In May 1971, Duarte was a member of the jury at the 24th Cannes Film Festival. 
  
Duarte had been active from 1947–1987. 
  
#borntoact 
#borntodirect 
@CinemaDoBrasil 
@BFI 
@MuseumModernArt 
@letterboxd 

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