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Bacurau (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Bacurau (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 131 min · Portuguese
Echo score 80
JustWatch #9,005 16
Directed by
Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Starring
Jonny Mars, Rubens Santos, Thardelly Lima, Alli Willow, Antonio Saboia, Barbara Colen
Budget
$7.7M

In a remote Brazilian town, the community mourns the loss of their matriarch. Soon after, they discover their village has disappeared from all maps and is under surveillance by a mysterious drone. A group of ruthless mercenaries appears, seeking to drive the residents out. The townspeople are forced to unite and fight back against the invaders in a fierce and unexpected struggle for their survival and the preservation of their way of life.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Bacurau
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Bacurau (2020)

Where can you watch Bacurau? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kino Film Collection, Hoopla and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Bacurau Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Bacurau (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Carmelita

    Carmelita serves as the heart of Bacurau, revered by the community. Her passing signifies not only a personal loss for her family but also the severing of a critical bond within the village. The reverberations of her absence push the townspeople closer together as they confront the challenges that arise.

    • 👵 Elder
    • ❤️ Community Figure
  • Tony Junior

    played by Thardelly Lima

    Tony Junior is depicted as a corrupt and manipulative mayor who prioritizes political gain over the welfare of Bacurau's residents. His arrival bearing spoiled goods marks him as an untrustworthy figure, further exacerbating tensions in the already desperate community. His actions spark a fierce rebellion against oppression.

    • 🗳️ Corruption
    • ⚖️ Antagonist
  • Michael

    played by Udo Kier

    Michael is a foreigner leading a group of Americans who view the residents of Bacurau as mere targets in their twisted competition. His character represents the outsider's perspective, and his fate reflects the consequences of underestimating the will and resilience of the local people.

    • 🌎 Outsider
    • 🚨 Antagonist
  • Teresa

    Teresa is the granddaughter of Carmelita, who returns to Bacurau after many years. Her motivations combine familial duty and the urgency to deliver medicine, highlighting the connection between past and present. She embodies the hope and determination of the younger generation amidst turmoil.

    • 👩‍⚕️ Healer
    • 🎀 Hopeful
  • Lunga

    played by Silvero Pereira

    Lunga is portrayed as a revolutionary figure who plays a pivotal role in rallying the townsfolk against their oppressors. His strength and wisdom enable him to unite the community in their fight for survival, making him a key ally in the resistance.

    • ✊ Revolutionary
    • 🔥 Leader

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:26

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Setting

Where and When Does Bacurau Take Place?

The setting of Bacurau (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Dystopian Future

The movie takes place in a dystopian future where societal structures and norms have deteriorated. During this time, communities like Bacurau face the consequences of political manipulation and corruption, as well as upheaval caused by outside forces. Such a setting highlights the themes of survival, solidarity, and resistance against oppression.

Location

Bacurau, Serra Verde, Pernambuco

Bacurau is a fictional rural community set in the dystopian landscape of western Pernambuco, Brazil. Known for its tight-knit residents, the village becomes a focal point of conflict amid unusual occurrences and struggles for survival. Its landscape reflects the resilience and spirit of the community as they face both external threats and internal disputes.

  • 🏞️ Rural Community
  • 📍 Fictional Location

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:26

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3 major themes

Bacurau Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Bacurau (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    Survival is a central theme of 'Bacurau' as the townspeople band together to confront external dangers and defend their community. The film illustrates the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their loved ones and their home. This theme is accentuated by the brutality that unfolds, leading to a powerful narrative of resistance and solidarity.

  • Corruption

    'Bacurau' examines the theme of corruption through the actions of Tony Junior, the local mayor. His manipulative tactics and neglect of the community's needs reveal the exploitation faced by rural populations. This theme connects closely with the power dynamics at play as the residents navigate their desperate circumstances.

  • Identity

    The struggle for identity in 'Bacurau' is explored through the villagers' determination to assert themselves against external forces that threaten their way of life. As they face the invaders, the community's collective identity is both tested and reinforced, highlighting their cultural legacy and the fight to preserve it.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:26

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Character & theme questions

Bacurau Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Bacurau (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Bacurau set?

Bacurau is set in a fictional rural community in western Pernambuco, Brazil. The village of Bacurau, along with the nearby town of Serra Verde, forms the main setting for the story.

  • bacurau location
  • pernanbuco
  • brazilian village
  • fictional town
Q2

When does Bacurau take place?

Bacurau is set in a dystopian future where societal structures have deteriorated. This time setting allows the film to explore themes of political manipulation, corruption, and community survival against oppressive outside forces.

  • dystopian future
  • time period
  • brazilian future
Q3

What are the main themes in Bacurau?

Bacurau explores three primary themes: survival as the community fights to defend their home against external threats, corruption through the actions of the neglectful mayor Tony Junior, and identity as the villagers assert their cultural legacy against invaders seeking to displace them.

  • survival
  • corruption
  • identity
  • themes
  • brazilian politics
Q4

Who is Carmelita in Bacurau?

Carmelita is the revered matriarch of Bacurau whose death at the beginning of the film symbolizes a critical bond being severed within the village. Her passing brings the community together as they face the external threats that follow.

  • carmelita
  • matriarch
  • village leader
  • death
Q5

Who is Tony Junior in Bacurau?

Tony Junior is the corrupt mayor of Bacurau who prioritizes political gain over the welfare of residents. His arrival with spoiled goods and manipulative tactics represent the exploitation faced by rural communities and spark rebellion against his oppression.

  • tony junior
  • mayor
  • corruption
  • politician
  • exploitation
Q6

Who is Lunga in Bacurau?

Lunga is a revolutionary figure who rallies the townspeople against their oppressors. His strength and wisdom enable him to unite the community in their fight for survival, making him a key leader in the resistance against the invaders.

  • lunga
  • revolutionary
  • resistance leader
  • community organizer
Q7

Who is Michael in Bacurau?

Michael is a foreigner leading a group of Americans who treat the residents of Bacurau as targets in a twisted competition. He represents the outsider perspective that underestimates the resilience of the local people, and his fate demonstrates the consequences of that arrogance.

  • michael
  • americans
  • mercenaries
  • outsiders
  • foreigners
Q8

Who is Teresa in Bacurau?

Teresa is the granddaughter of Carmelita who returns to Bacurau after many years. Her motivations combine familial duty with the urgent need to deliver medicine, embodying the hope and determination of the younger generation amidst the community's turmoil.

  • teresa
  • granddaughter
  • medicine
  • younger generation
Q9

What does it mean that Bacurau disappears from maps?

The erasure of Bacurau from all maps signals the systematic attempt to erase the community from existence, representing how marginalized populations are made invisible by those in power. This strange occurrence is followed by drone surveillance, indicating the villagers are being targeted for removal.

  • erased from maps
  • drone
  • surveillance
  • invisibility
  • erasure
Q10

What social commentary does Bacurau make?

Bacurau serves as political satire examining Brazilian rural politics, the exploitation of peripheral communities, and how outside forces (represented by the mayor and foreign mercenaries) work to displace and silence marginalized populations. The film critiques both local corruption and neocolonial interference.

  • political satire
  • social commentary
  • brazil
  • exploitation
  • colonialism
Q11

What type of movie is Bacurau?

Bacurau blends multiple genres including western, thriller, dystopian sci-fi, and political drama. It combines a classic revenge narrative structure with sci-fi elements like the surveillance drone, while maintaining the tension and visual language of a western.

  • genre
  • western
  • sci-fi
  • thriller
  • dystopian
  • brazilian cinema
Q12

How does Bacurau depict community survival?

Bacurau portrays survival as a collective effort where the tightly-knit residents unite against existential threats. The film illustrates how individuals band together to protect their loved ones and their home, emphasizing solidarity and resistance against oppression as essential to the community's survival.

  • community
  • solidarity
  • survival
  • resistance
  • collective action

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bacurau, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Bacurau tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about collective resistance like Bacurau

Stories where a tight-knit community bands together against overwhelming external threats. If you liked the fierce community struggle in Bacurau, explore more movies where a united group fights back against oppression. These films often blend thriller, action, and drama, showcasing the power of solidarity in the face of existential threats.

  • tense
  • urgent
  • resilient
  • vengeful
  • unsettling
  • oppressive
  • Tone: tense, urgent, vengeful
  • Pacing: variable, building to fast-paced conflict
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins by establishing the community's daily life and social bonds, which are then shattered by an invasion or systematic attack. The story follows the group's journey from shock and fear to organized resistance, often culminating in a violent, climactic confrontation where the underdogs use their intimate knowledge of the environment to their advantage.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core theme of collective empowerment against oppression. They feature a similar emotional arc from vulnerability to defiant resistance, a tense and urgent tone, and often a bittersweet victory earned through significant loss.

Hunter becomes hunted thrillers like Bacurau

Narratives where arrogant predators are outsmarted and overpowered by their intended prey. For viewers who enjoyed the satisfying table-turning in Bacurau, this list features similar movies where the hunters become the hunted. These stories deliver a cathartic payoff as the oppressed outmaneuver their aggressors in tense, often brutal, survival scenarios.

  • tense
  • vengeful
  • brutal
  • unsettling
  • paranoid
  • cathartic
  • Tone: tense, dark, vengeful
  • Pacing: variable, slow build to explosive action
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The pattern involves a clear power imbalance established early on, with a ruthless group hunting a seemingly vulnerable one. A key event, often a moral line crossed by the hunters, ignites a fierce retaliation. The narrative then shifts perspective, focusing on the methodical and clever ways the prey turns the hunters' arrogance against them, leading to a climactic and visceral counter-attack.

Why they belong together: These films share a core narrative structure and emotional payoff: the catharsis of seeing the powerful humbled. They create a tense, paranoid mood that erupts into vengeful action, driven by themes of justice, survival, and the failure of colonial or exploitative mindsets.

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Movies Like Bacurau

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Every angle

Bacurau (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Bacurau in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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