Moacyr Góes’ delightfully gaudy “O Homem Que Desafiou o Diabo” [Eng. Title: The Man Who Challenged the Devil] is not your everyday comedy, even if it might appear outwardly so at first glance.
The film, about the hilarious adventures of a once-travelling salesman named José Araújo (Marcos Palmeira), liberally borrows themes from different genre to sugar-coat a deep irony it carries. As the title suggests, our hero does battle with the devil (Helder Vasconcellos), but there is also a separate albeit subtle battle being waged by the film’s creator – he introduces stereotypes and myths of various kinds through the central character’s adventures, only for them to be shattered – the film spews life-truths that mainstream comedies wouldn’t normally touch with a barge pole.
Here, a forty year old virgin turns into a nymphomaniac, a wealthy and virtuous young woman dumps the love of her life to become a prostitute, and the lead female character – an opportunistic tricks-turner, will become the heroic figure that the central character will fall in love with. Everyone, save the devil, will break stereotype and established clichés. Talking of breaking stereotypes – in how many mainstream films have you seen the lead’s love interest (and darling of the audience) loose two front teeth for the sake of a gag, and stay that way till the end! The bitter-sweet ending is also more in keeping with a classic Spaghetti Western or a Alejandro Jodorowsky, than a conventional comedy.
Despite some local nuances completely escaping me as a foreigner – some dialogues spoken in dialect fail to make sense even with subtitles – it shouldn’t put people off completely because there is also comedy of a universal kind to keep you engaged. The first part of the film, about Araújo’s totally unplanned marriage to virgin Dualiba (played brilliantly by Lívia Falcão) is replete with visual humour. Palmeira himself is magnificent as the naive Araújo who changes into lone ranger and avenger Ojuara (his original name spelt backwards).
Fernanda Paes Leme is adorable as Ojuara’s love interest – a prostitute called Genifer, and Flávia Alessandra is spectacular as sorceress Mãe de Pantanha (with a carnivorous vagina). There’s also a hilarious hunchback (Leon Goes) whose role must sure have been fun to play. The over-the-top lighting effects lend atmosphere to the film, and the chaotic compositions – authenticity. The entertaining film also gives us something to mull over at the end – certainly Highly Recommended Viewing..!
The Nudity: Marcos Palmeira, Fernanda Paes Leme, Flávia Alessandra, and Juliana Porteus
With an epic screenplay surrounding a protagonist obsessed with women, the intermittent scenes of sex and nudity is perhaps predictable. The cute and sexy Fernanda Paes Leme sizzles in most of her scenes, but credit should also go to Marcos Palmeira whose character make the lovely ladies he meets even more desirable.
Marcos Palmeira, Fernanda Paes Leme, Flávia Alessandra, and Juliana Porteus in “O Homem Que Desafiou o Diabo” aka “The Man Who Challenged the Devil”.
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Compilation: Lívia Falcão, Marcos Palmeira, Fernanda Paes Leme, Flávia Alessandra, and Juliana Porteus
Lívia Falcão, Marcos Palmeira, Fernanda Paes Leme, Flávia Alessandra, and Juliana Porteus nude in “O Homem Que Desafiou o Diabo” aka “The Man Who Challenged the Devil”.
Scene Guide:
- Lívia Falcão doesn’t get nude, but her scene with Marco Palmeira at the beginning is quite sexy and funny. She plays his accidental wife Dualiba – a 40-year old virgin-turned nymphomaniac. In the second part of the scene, after he’d become the joke of town and called a ‘sissy’, he asserts himself by lashing out at the exploitative father and daughter duo.
- Ojuara is enchanted by pretty Genifer (Fernanda Paes Leme) in Dona Belinha’s brothel. They’re soon disturbed by a client who wants her all to himself.
- Flávia Alessandra, as sorceress Mãe de Pantanha offers Ojuara one night of pleasure (with whoever he desired) before a night with her.
- He chooses circus acrobat Sue (Juliana Porteus), who appears before him on-cue with her flaming red pubic hair, ready to please.
- Now’s the time to face Mãe de Pantanha. Forewarned by the hunchback, Ojuara comes prepared, and Mãe ends up biting off more than she could chew..!
- It’s a small world – Ojuara bumps into Genifer again in a different town, but they’re disturbed once again by yet another possessive customer – when the contest to determine their right to bed Genifer ends in a draw, Genifer wins it for Ojuara by pulling out one of the nails ‘without using her hands’. 🙂
- Ojuara and Genifer – happy times…
Download Links:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
(All parts required. All parts required – unpack with Winrar.)
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