MOVIE

Original text and source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xica

Xica (Portuguese: Xica da Silva) is a 1976 Brazilian comedy film directed and written by Carlos Diegues, based on the novel by João Felício dos Santos, which is a romanticized retelling of the true story of Chica da Silva, an 18th-century African slave in Brazil, who attracts the attention of a powerful Portuguese land-owner and eventually rises into the Brazilian high society. The movie stars Zezé Motta, Walmor Chagas and José Wilker. It was chosen as the Brazilian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 49th Academy Awards, but it failed to get a nomination.

The film is based on the novel Memórias do Distrito de Diamantina, written by João Felicio dos Santos (who has a small role in the film as a Roman Catholic pastor). It is a romanticized retelling of the true story of Chica da Silva,[2] an 18th-century African slave in the state of Minas Gerais, who attracts the attention of João Fernandes de Oliveira, a Portuguese sent by Lisbon with the Crown's exclusive contract for mining diamonds, and eventually becomes his lover, rises into power and into the Brazilian high society of the time. Moreover, João quickly lets the intendant and other authorities know that he can be bribed, and gets onto their corruption scheme. Eventually Lisbon hears of João's (and Xica's) excesses and sends an inspector. José, a political radical, is another main character, who provides Xica refuge.

Directed by	Carlos Diegues
Written by	Antonio Callado Carlos Diegues
Based on	Xica da Silva by João Felício dos Santos
Produced by	Jarbas Barbosa Airton Correa Hélio Ferraz José Oliosi
Starring	Zezé Motta Walmor Chagas José Wilker Elke Maravilha Stepan Nercessian
Cinematography	José Medeiros
Edited by	Mair Tavares
Music by	Jorge Ben Jor Roberto Menescal
Production companies	J.B. Produções Distrifilmes
Distributed by	Embrafilme
Release date	September 6, 1976[1]
Running time	107 minutes
Country	Brazil
Language	Portuguese

Zezé Motta as Xica da Silva (based on Chica da Silva)

Walmor Chagas as João Fernandes

Altair Lima as Intendent

Elke Maravilha as Hortência

Stepan Nercessian as José

Rodolfo Arena as Sargeant

José Wilker as The Count of Valadares

Marcos Vinicius as Teodoro

João Felicio dos Santos as pastor