Watch “Besouro” Now!
Here’s a film that we’ve been looking forward to seeing since first discovering it last summer – Besouro. Read my original post on the film HERE.
It screened in its country of origin – Brazil – last October, and made its non-Brazilian debut at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this month. Although I heard/read little about the screening, in terms of critic reviews and such.
As far as I know, it hasn’t reached American shores, and is without an American (or any non-Brazilian) distributor.
Well, while not the most ideal way to see it, I was just alerted (thanks André!) to the fact that it’s been uploaded onto the web, in actually pretty decent quality, even when expanded to full screen, which is how I’m watching it of course. Like I said, not the most ideal way to premiere it, but, for those anxious enough to see it, this may be your only chance, because it may never reach you, wherever you are, or it may be a long while before it does – even on DVD.
I started to watch it, but remembered that I should at least post it here for the rest of you folks, in case it disappears shortly
If you need a reminder… the story goes… The son of João Grosso and Maria Haifa, Manuel Henriques, learned capoeira from Tio Alípio (an ex African slave), around the Rua do Trapiche de Baixo, located at Santo Amaro da Purificação (Bahia). Tio Alípio gave Manuel Henriques the nickname of “Besouro Mangangá” due to his ability to quickly disappear whenever he was around a belligerent group or facing danger. As he was a famous and strong capoeirista, word spread and soon was born the legend that Besouro Mangangá had supernatural powers. He could not only disappear when facing danger, but he could also turn into a big black beetle (Besouro translates to beetle in English).
In 1924, at the age of 27, Besouro Mangangá was caught in an ambush, stabbed and killed with a “ticum” knife (type of knife made from a bull’s bone). Notable names in the capoeira world like Mestre Cobrinha verde (his cousin) and Siri de Mangue were his students.
Watch the film now in the player below. NOTE: You will need the free “DivX (Plus) Web Player” – which streams HD content for both Windows and Mac OS. If you don’t already have the app, CLICK HERE to download it. No it’s not SPAM or Spyware, if you’re not aware of what the DivX player is.
And if you can’t watch it below, CLICK HERE. Suggest you watch it full screen:
PLEASE NOTE: Had trouble when attempting to view via Safari browser. Worked fine with Firefox.