“I was born an outlaw and that’s how I’ll live.”
Joao Francisco dos Santos–also known as Madame Sata–led an extraordinary life. He was born a child of slaves in Brazil, and when he was seven, he was sold for a mule. As an adult, he lived in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, and he spent 26 years of his life in jail. During Joao’s checkered career, he was a criminal, a boxer, a cabaret singer, a carnival star, and a murderer.
This background information is on the back of the DVD box, and it was enough to make me want to watch the film…
Director Karim Ainouz’s film Madame Sata tries to take a deconstructive approach to Joao’s life of oppositional contrasts. He was capable of brutish violence, but lived with an extended family that included prostitute Laurita (Marcelia Cartaxo), 7 ‘adopted’ children, and transgendered Taboo (Flavio Bauraqui). Unfortunately, the film’s focus is squarely on the violent, ugly side of Joao’s life, so by the film’s conclusion, we are left only with the impression of a violent man whose hair-trigger temper landed him in jail. Ultimately, the film brings us no closer to why Joao is different from any other petty criminal.
The film begins with Joao working in a club where he assists a singer. While she’s out on stage, he’s imitating her act, and when she’s gone, he’s trying on her clothes. These moments of fantasy and beauty are in contrast to the sordid violence of Joao’s life. Cabaret allows a brief beauty into Joao’s terrible life, and it’s easy to understand why he is so drawn to the fantasy it represents. Unfortunately, the film fails to cover details of Joao’s life–his childhood is a big blank–and all we see is an explosive street thug. Several scenes show his brutal, harsh treatment of those he professes to love, and Joao is hostile, unpredictable and down right unpleasant.
I watched the film for Joao’s story, but little of it was covered here in the bar room brawls, a few bedroom scenes, and the emphasis on violence. It feels like a bit of a swindle to read the cover of a DVD that professes to portray the extraordinary life of an unusual man–only to discover that the film makes few references to the more interesting facts of his life. The DVD extras include more information about Joao than one can garner from the film itself. Extras include: director’s commentary, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, and “Seams” a documentary. Although the film is colourful, the acting good, and the music lively and exotic, overall the film is a disappointment. In Portuguese with English subtitles.
