''Napomuceno's Will'' ( pt, O testamento do Senhor Napumoceno, "The Will of Mr. Napumoceno") is a 1997 Cape Verdean

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Francisco Manso Francisco Manso (born 28 November 1949), is a Portuguese filmmaker and producer. He is best known as the director of the critically acclaimed films, ''Napomuceno's Will'', '' The Consul of Bordeaux'' and ''O Nosso Cônsul em Havana''. Career He g ...

, based on the 1989 novel ''

The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo ''The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo'' (Portuguese: ''O Testamento do Senhor Napumoceno da Silva Araújo'', Cape Verdean Creole (Badiu): ''U Testamentu du Sinhor Napumosenu da Silva Araúju'') is a Capeverdean novel published ...

'' by Germano Almeida.

Synopsis

Napumoceno da Silva Araújo, a wealthy

Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

merchant, dies and unexpectedly disinherits his nephew, leaving his fortune to an illegitimate daughter. He also leaves her a collection of cassette tapes in which he tells her the story of his life, how he came from poverty to success and status, and the many women he loved along the way.

Cast

* Nelson Xavier — Napumoceno da da Silva Araújo *

Maria Ceiça Maria Ceiça (born Maria da Conceição Justino de Paula in Rio de Janeiro, October 18, 1965) is a Brazilian actress, singer and performer, who has a significant career in theater, movies and television. Biography Trained at the Martins Pena The ...

— Graça * Chico Díaz — Carlos *

Zezé Motta Maria José Motta de Oliveira (born 27 June 1944), known as Zezé Motta, is a Brazilian actress and singer. She is considered one of the most important actresses in Brazil. Life and career Born in Campos dos Goytacazes, she moved with her famil ...

— Eduarda * Vya Negromonte — Mari Chica * Milton Gonçalves — Mayor * Elisa Lucinda — Dona Jóia *

Ana Firmino Ana Firmino (born 1953) is a Cape Verdean singer. She was born in 1953 on the island of Sal, but it was not until she was in her late 20s that she dedicated herself to a career in music. She has performed for many years in Cape Verde and Europe ...

— Dona Rosa * Cesária Évora — Arminda

Release

''Napomuceno's Will'' premiered at the Festival de Gramado, Brazil in August 1997. It received positive reviews, '' Variety'' praising Chico Díaz in particular. For the ''

San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. de ...

'', Mick LaSalle wrote that " avier'sAraujo is essentially a clown, but one so dynamic and single-minded that it becomes understandable why he is attractive to women and successful in business. With a virtuosity reminiscent of Roberto Benigni, he uses his voice as a dazzling comedic instrument, rising to ear-splitting heights in moments of pomposity and exasperation. At the same time, Xavier gives us moments of heartbreaking nakedness, when Araujo's pretense drops away, and we see right into his pain." In ''Contemporary Lusophone African Film'', Paulo de Medeiros complained that the film ignored mentions of

colonialism Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

in the original book, pointing out that with a Portuguese director and audience, the film embraces a " Lusotropicalist" perspective or aims to forget about colonialism.

References

External links

* * *{{YouTube, Rq_mX3FZFy4, Entire film (in Portuguese, no subtitles) 1997 drama films Cape Verdean drama films 1990s Portuguese-language films Films set in Cape Verde Films directed by Francisco Manso