O PROFETA DA FOME

The theoretical justification for O profeta da fome can be found in Glauber Rocha's essay, A Estética da Fome. The film is divided into a prologue and ten chapters. In Dom José's little circus, it is the fakir, Alikan, who does all the most sensational and risky acts, such as those entitled "buried alive" and "bloody suicide." Alikan walks on sharp pieces of glass, on nails, and on fire. The circus catches fire. Alikan, his girIfriend Maria, and the lion tamer - a violent and brutal man - run away and find themselves at the start of a long path. Alikan loses his right eye in a fight with the lion tamer. Alikan does an act that borders on the mystic, called "crucified alive." And for it, he is put into prison. When he gets out, he goes right to Avenida São João in São Paulo, where he tries to break the record for a fast - one hundred days. However, the surprising path of Alikan does not finish here.

"This is a film that is low-budget but seems rich. The director tied to give the scenes four different cinematographic treatments. In this way he creates a nightmare world that has a lot to do with the one in which we are living." (Alex Viany)

Director: Maurice Capovilla.
Screenplay: Maurice Capovilla, Fernando Peixoto, Hamilton de Almeida.
Director of photography: Jorge Bodanzky.
Scenografia e costumi: Flávio Império.
Editor: Silvio Renoldi.
Music: Rinaldo Rossi.
Songs: "Olho por Olho" di Adauto Santos.
Cast and characters: José Mojica Marins (Alikan), Maurício do Valle, Júlia Miranda, Sérgio Hingst, Jofre Soares, Adauto Santos, Heládio Brito, Flávio Império, Lenoir Bittencourt, Fuxico, Angelo Matarn, Jean-Claude Bernadet.
Production company: Fotograma Produtora e Distribuidora de Filmes/Odécio Lopes dos Santos.