In the late 19th century, we meet Francisco Manoel da Silva, portrayed by Klaus Kinski, a hedonistic Brazilian rancher forced into labor at a gold mining company after drought devastates his ranch. His troubling realization of being financially exploited leads him to a shocking act—he murders his boss and becomes an outlaw known as Cobra Verde (or Green Snake), gaining notoriety as the most brutal bandit in the sertão.
While visiting a local town, da Silva encounters and subdues an escaping slave through sheer force of will, capturing the attention of the affluent sugar baron, Dom Octávio Coutinho, played by José Lewgoy. Unbeknownst to Dom Coutinho, da Silva is the infamous bandit he just hired to manage the slaves on his plantation. Tension escalates when da Silva's reckless liaisons result in the pregnancies of all three of the baron’s daughters. Outraged, Dom Coutinho decides that instead of execution, he would punish da Silva by sending him on a perilous mission—to re-establish the slave trade with Western Africa.
Understanding the dire consequences that await him in Africa, da Silva nonetheless accepts the grave undertaking. His perilous journey takes him to Dahomey, which is present-day Benin, where he has to deal with the formidable King Bossa Ahadee, brought to life by the Honorary Omanhene Nana Agyefi Kwame II of Nsein, near Axim, Ghana. To everyone’s surprise, da Silva persuades the King to trade slaves for new rifles.
He seizes control of Elmina Castle and aligns himself with King Ampaw, the last survivor of his previous mission. Together, they embark on the harrowing venture of transporting enslaved individuals across the Atlantic to Brazil. Yet fortune swiftly turns, as the capricious king has them apprehended on dubious charges, including the absurd accusation of poisoning his greyhound, and orders their execution.
Just before his imminent demise, da Silva and King Ampaw are saved by the King's nephew, who seeks to forge a blood alliance with da Silva to destabilize the ruling King. In an unexpected turn of events, the ambitious bandit trains a formidable army of native women, who are initially intent on exterminating all men, and leads a successful assault against King Bossa.
Miraculously, under the new monarchy, the slave trade persists, aided by da Silva's cunning. However, the bandit soon finds himself at odds with the new king. He learns that his homeland of Brazil has abolished slavery and confiscated his holdings, with the British now placing a bounty on his head. Despite facing numerous challenges, da Silva expresses a sense of relief knowing that a vital change has unfolded, acknowledging the horrific crime that slavery truly is.
In a poignant closing scene, the weary outlaw stumbles onto the beach at Elmina, attempting to drag a ship's boat toward the surf. As he collapses in despair, the tide begins to rise, and a crippled African man approaches him, crawling along the shore. The film concludes with a vibrant image of young African women joyfully chanting, a symbol of hope and resilience as the credits roll.
