There are really two ways to interpret Joaquim Pedro de Andrade's Macunaíma. The first is to admire it as a surreal, bizarre extravaganza of color, sound, and Brazilian folk culture. But the second way to watch Macunaíma is to look beyond its hijinks and apparent insanity to recognize the film as a masterpiece of political and social satire of late 60s Brazil. Based on the 1928 book by Mário de Andrade, Macunaíma plays like a modern day fable. The film begins with a "Brazilian hero" being born by a white woman in drag in the middle of the jungle. Quite unusually, though, the "hero" is fully grown physically but retains the intellect and maturity of a child. After being turned white by a magical water fountain, the "hero" leads his family to the city. He quickly falls in love with a radical activist and...well...from there it gets confusing. Death, political corruption, and cannibalism are only a few of the trials that the "hero" will have to endure. The film moves with an unbridled energy that can easily leave the casual viewer confused and disoriented. But those who diligently pay attention are rewarded with one of the triumphs of Brazilian Cinema Novo.
8/10
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