Film Review: Behind the Sun (Abril Despedaçado, 2001)
“Write what you know” was the advice taken by Ismail Kadare, the most celebrated author of Albanian literature, when making his 1978 novel Broken April. Although inspired by the harsh history of his native country and the way his compatriots' lives were bound by suffocating and often cruel traditions, the novel has left a huge impression even on readers outside Albanian borders. One of them was Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, whose 2001 film Shattered April, released internationally under the English title Behind the Sun, represented a somewhat loose adaptation of Kadare's text.
The plot is set in 1910 in the harsh landscape of Northeastern Brazil, where two families of former slave owners try to maintain their sugar cane plantations. To the Breves family, it is especially difficult, as the lack of cheap labour force and low prices of cane mean that they have to constantly work in the field. For some members of the family, life is not only harsh but short. Long ago, the Breves family quarrelled with their neighbours from the Ferreira family over land, resulting in blood being spilled. The lack of government authority and ancient customs led to both families being locked in a never-ending cycle of revenge killings. 20-year-old Tonho Breves (played by Rodrigo Santoro), the middle son, lost his older brother, whom he is obligated to avenge by killing Ferreira's oldest son. After the deed, a one-month truce is declared, after which Tonho is about to be killed in return. As his family prepares for the inevitable, a group of travelling entertainers pass near their farm. They include a beautiful girl named Clara (played by Flavia Marco Antonio) and her stepfather Salustian (played by Luis Carlos Vasconselos). The encounter with people whose way of life is so different from theirs leaves a huge impression on the surviving Breves sons – Tonho and his 10-year-old unnamed brother (played by Ravi Ranamos Lacerda), who, despite being illiterate, becomes obsessed with book illustrations and begins dreaming about a trip to the sea. Tonho has fallen in love with Clara and begins contemplating his departure from the farm, which would ultimately end the endless cycle of blood feud.
Behind the Sun had many ingredients for being a proper arthouse hit. Salles, with the reputation built on his previous film Central Station, seemed to be a good choice for director. However, while that film was good and intriguing depiction of present-day Brazil, Behind the Sun wasn’t that successful in depicting Brazil’s troubled past. The reason might be in overly faithful adaptation of the novel. While Central Station tempered its portrayal of harsh urban and rural realities with humour, this film approached themes of poverty and honour culture with the seriousness of an ancient Greek tragedy. The result is somewhat uneasy and often unpleasant mix of naturalism and pathos. Although some actors did a fine job, most notably young Ravi Ramos Lacerda, and although cinematography by Walter Carvalho captured the natural beauty (or lack of) of Northeastern Brazil, the slow rhythm of the film might prove challenging for viewers, and the predictable ending doesn’t help either. Behind the Sun is still a solid film with an intriguing subject, although it gives the impression that it could have been much better."
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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