Rebelião em Vila Rica (1958)

Synopsis (with spoilers): Ouro Preto is a historic town in Brazil where a conspiracy to establish an independent state was foiled by the Portuguese in the 18th century. This movie's story happens in 1945, when Brazil is under a dictatorial regime which curbs the universities' autonomy. When the government announces its decision to transfer the Mining and Metallurgy School to another city, the students and the school's dean oppose the decision. The dean is put into forced retirement and a new dean is appointed by the government. The students organize a strike. When that proves itself ineffective, they decide to organize a small routine that they expect to annoy the dean and turn the city's population against him: they chime the church's bell at night, awaking the town. The dean retaliate, closing the Students' Association. The students decide for a radical act: to take over the school. However, they are betrayed by one of them, who was facing expulsion for trying to adulterate his score card. When the students break into the school's building, they are received by the police. In the confront, the students' leader is killed. He becomes a martyr and the students' cause finally win.
Appraisal: It's impossible not to notice the naiveté in the depiction of its characters and their interrelationships, but its warmth and energy imparts it a certain attractiveness. There are many musical numbers with the actors being dubbed by singers or by a professional choir, making the first half of the movie practically a musical. These musical interruptions, although well performed, are clumsy and in some cases dilute the dramatic strength of the film. The film's political aspect is not without interest, even nearly 50 years later. Certain performances, for instance those of the characters 'Rosália' (the secretary) and 'Xavier' (the students' leader) are very good. The major problem is that some smaller parts are not well played at all.
Rating: 40