FOUR DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
A tense film directed by Bruno Barreto, it recounts four momentous days in Brazil in September 1969 when some dedicated but amateurish young men and women decide to bring to the attention of the world that Brazil had a military dictatorship and kept many left-wing young people prisoner. With all their efforts thwarted, with nothing they do making world news, they decide to kidnap the American Ambassador, Charles Elrick (Alan Arkin) and hold him hostage with threats of execution if Brazil does not release its political prisoners.
The film is based on Fernando Gaberia's book, O QUE E ISSO, COMPANHEIRO, (What's happening, Comrade?). The script is by Leopold Serran. In fact, an actor portraying Gaberia, is a principal character in the film.
To accomplish the kidnap and to call the military's torture of its prisoners to the world, the amateur terrorists (revolutionaries?) attempt a bank holdup. While the true story of those four days is an edge-of-the-seat story, it is also a human story, the important parts taking place in the room of the house where the Ambassador is being held.
Warned that each person must assume a pseudonym and further warned that everyone must follow orders or risk being shot, the movie comes down to these young people, idealists who realize they do not want to die for the revolution. It had not occurred to them only four days ago that they might be caught and shot. I knew people like that who were in the Communist Party and gave up their parents and friends, to disappear without so much as a "Good Bye" to pursue "The Cause." That they later regretted what they had done is another story and may make a good movie.
Alan Arkin plays the ambassador with great dignity. He is even sympathetic to the plight of these mostly young people. The Ambassador is against both the war in Vietnam and the military dictatorship . . . but his job as Ambassador requires loyalty to his government.
Pedro Cardoso has the role of writer Fernando Gaberia/Paulo. Fernanda Torres is Maria Luis Fernand Guimares is Marcao Claudia Abreu is Renee
A Brazilian film, in Portuguese with English subtitles.
Beautifully directed by Bruno Barreto
Barreto does not allow any of his personal prejudices or political beliefs to color the film. . . and for that he deserves much praise.
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Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
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