The Assailant

Besouro is a fearless apprentice of Mestre Alípio who embraces capoeira as a tool of resistance against plantation oppression. After receiving the corpo fechado power from Dona Zulmira, he becomes invulnerable to most attacks, fueling a one-man guerrilla campaign against Coronel Venâncio. His strength draws opposition from friends and foes alike, and his death comes at the hands of Venâncio’s ticum machete. The narrative follows his rise, his sacrifices, and the legacy he leaves for his community.

An elderly master of capoeira who trains Besouro and keeps the tradition alive. His life is threatened by the oppressive regime, and his eventual death at police hands serves as a catalyst for Besouro’s intensified resistance. He embodies the old guard of the art and its potential to empower the oppressed.

A powerful plantation owner and army officer who persecutes Besouro’s people. He embodies the system of oppression and wields brutal force, culminating in Besouro’s death with a ticum machete. His attempts to intimidate and brutalize Dinorá further escalate the conflict.

Besouro’s childhood friend and rival who aligns with Venâncio. Jealousy drives him to frame Besouro for murder and to reveal the ticum vulnerability, triggering harsher state retaliation. His actions complicate the community’s struggle and test loyalties.

Quero-Quero’s fiancée who abandons him for Besouro. Dinorá becomes Besouro’s ally and, as the story progresses, is revealed to be pregnant with Besouro’s child. She ultimately confronts Venâncio, embodying strength and resilience in defense of Besouro’s legacy.

A spiritual entity who appears to Besouro and demands worship, initiating a supernatural dimension to the hero’s awakening. Exu’s presence frames Besouro’s power as part of a larger, ancestral struggle for freedom.

A spiritual teacher who grants Besouro the choker that bestows corpo fechado, setting the stage for his invulnerability. She acts as a mentor figure who connects Besouro’s fate to spiritual lineage.

Besouro’s loyal friend and fellow capoeirista who remains a steady ally. He carries the torch of capoeira in the community and later plays a role in teaching the next generation, including Besouro’s son.