The Given Word

1962 1h 38m PT

🙌

8.1

BANGER

⭐

8.3

IMDB

★8.1TMDB · 127★8.3IMDB · 4,305

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Zé is a very poor man whose most prized possession is his donkey. When his donkey falls terminally ill, Zé makes a promise to Saint Bárbara: If his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross - like Jesus - all the way from his city to Saint Bárbara's church, in the state capital. Upon the recovery of his donkey, Zé leaves on his journey. He makes it to the church, but the priest refuses to accept the cross once he discovers the context of Zé's promise.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Leonardo Villar
Zé do Burro
Glória Menezes
Rosa
Dionísio Azevedo
Padre Olavo
Geraldo del Rey
Bonitão
Roberto Ferreira
Dedé
Othon Bastos
Reporter
Antônio Pitanga
Mestre Coca
Gilberto Marques
Galego

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Anselmo Duarte
Writers: Anselmo Duarte, Dias Gomes
Languages: Portuguese
Countries: Brazil

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

64 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Anselmo Duarte, shot by H.E. Fowle. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gabriel Migliori. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Carlos Coimbra shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Leonardo Villar and Glória Menezes and Dionísio Azevedo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0056322 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Anselmo Duarte directs. H.E. Fowle behind the camera. Gabriel Migliori scores. Carlos Coimbra cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Brazil. Dialogue in Portuguese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

164 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Anselmo Duarte, shot by H.E. Fowle. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Gabriel Migliori. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Carlos Coimbra shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Leonardo Villar and Glória Menezes and Dionísio Azevedo carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0056322 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.