The Assailant

In 1924, slavery is outlawed but Black Brazilians still face oppression from the wealthy. Mestre Alípio leads a regional resistance in the Recôncavo Baiano. Besouro is appointed as Alípio's bodyguard to shield him from threats. The arrangement marks the beginning of Besouro's public role in the struggle.

The authorities intensify their crackdown on the resistance. Besouro's role as protector makes Alípio a target of state violence. In the confrontation, Mestre Alípio is killed by the police.

With Alípio gone, Besouro becomes the main protector of the community and a visible capoeira figure in street circles. He uses capoeira not only as sport but as a weapon against oppression. His work in the streets helps keep the resistance alive.

A spiritual entity named Exu visits Besouro and demands worship. Besouro struggles to resist this otherworldly command, setting him on a fated path. The encounter foreshadows the supernatural elements that will shape his battles.

During a confrontation sparked by Exu's demand, Besouro accidentally trashes a local work fair. Guards pursue him through the crowd, forcing a frantic escape. He dives into a river to avoid capture.

After his river escape, Besouro meets the spiritual teacher Dona Zulmira. She bestows a choker that grants corpo fechado, rendering him invulnerable to most attacks. The power remains subject to a later revelation about the ticum tree.

Armed with corpo fechado, Besouro begins a one-man guerrilla campaign against Coronel Venâncio's plantations. He aims to strike at the slave system fueling the oppression. The invulnerability helps him survive brutal reprisals.

Quero-Quero, Besouro's childhood friend, grows jealous and aligns with Venâncio. Dinorá, Quero-Quero's fiancée, leaves him to join Besouro's cause. This personal betrayal heightens the conflict in the region.

In a jungle duel, Besouro defeats Quero-Quero, humiliating him in front of the locals. The loss fuels Quero-Quero's resolve to undermine Besouro and the movement. The confrontation further polarizes the community.

Quero-Quero kills a man and frames Besouro to provoke a harsher crackdown. He then reveals to the authorities that a machete carved from ticum wood can kill Besouro, increasing the danger to the hero. The revelation stores a lethal vulnerability for the movement.

Venâncio and his men corner Besouro and end his life with a ticum machete. The assassination demonstrates the brutal reach of colonial power. Besouro dies as the movement faces a major setback, though his legend endures.

After Besouro's death, Venâncio attempts to rape Dinorá, but she defends herself with capoeira and escapes to mourn Besouro. She protects their unborn child and preserves his memory for the community. The incident underscores the ongoing danger facing Dinorá and her family.

Dinorá's pregnancy is revealed, and their son grows up learning capoeira under Besouro's ally Chico. The boy chooses his father's name as his own, keeping Besouro's legacy alive in the next generation. The family remains a symbol of resistance.

In the final moments, the grown boy stares at Coronel Venâncio in the street, implying he will someday avenge Besouro. The film closes with a sense that the struggle continues through the next generation. The legacy of Besouro endures as an inspiration for future fighters.