Barravento

Describes the setting of a scene in a play or a film. It refers to everything placed on the stage or in front of the camera—including people. In other words, mise en scène is a catch-all for everything that contributes to the visual presentation and overall “look” of a production. When translated from French, it means “placing on stage.”

Setting

Setting

Location

Explanation

This movie was filmed on location in Salvador, Bahia between 1959 and September 1960. It is shot in a realistic style. Characteristic of the first phase of the Cinema Novo movement, the film-shoot took place in rural areas of Brazil to depict real-life problems of the working class in the most realistic way possible.

Timecode

00:05:25-00:05:26

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Props

Timecode

00:34:53

Prop

Net

Explanation

The fishernet is perhaps the most important prop of the film. It is representative of the political exploitation and economic dependency of the village. The act of all fishermen pulling the same rope can be interpreted as being connected to the same fate. Moreover, the destruction of the net is what drives Buraquinho into chaos and ultimately leads up to the climax of the film.

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Timecode

00:50:03

Prop

Drum

Explanation

The drum is also an important prop in the film. It is not only used in celebrations or dances, but also when the characters are pulling in the net. Most notably, the drum is present when Aruã and Firmino are fighting each other. The drum helps illustrate the traditions of the village and the struggle between tradition and modernity. It also illustrates when the movie is getting closer to its climax. The beat gets stronger and there are more appearances of the drum.

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Timecode

01:10:34

Prop

Scissors

Explanation

The scissors in this movie are used to cut Naína's hair towards the end of the movie. Cutting a woman's hair symbolizes new beginning or the start of a new chapter. Thus, this scene and the scissors represent a new chapter for not only Naína but also the whole village. This scene occurs right as the climax is occurring as well, which can also be seen as literally moving the plot forward. As Aruã changes the fate of the village, Naína is also changing her fate.

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Lighting

Lighting

Low key

Explanation

Kicker lighting is used to emphasize facial expressions. Since this movie is filmed on location, the lighting is also very natural, and sometimes diffused. Depending on the time of day, the lighting drastically changes. For the most part, this movie has low key lighting. There is very little contrast between the characters and the rest of the scene. There are moments of high key lighting, but it appears when there is another light source, such as a fire. This low key lighting helps set the scene for the movie. In the title sequence, it states that Barravento signifies the beginning of chaos or a violent time. The low key lighting helps set the tone for the movie. The direction of light tends to be side lighting, which illustrates the more dramatic parts of the movie. Moreover, there are times of high-contrast symbolic lighting. This lighting is used emphasize the most important and dramatic scenes. For the most part, however, we encounter natural lighting that emphasizes realism.

Timecode

00:45:26

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Costume

Costume

Clothes of Buraquinho and Firmino

Explanation

Costume design by Lúcia Rocha.
The costumes help to distinguish between the social standings of the actors. While Firmino or the capitalist leaders stand out due to their fancy suits, most of the village population walks around either half-naked or in more simple clothing. However, for rituals, traditional dances, or the funeral, people do dress up. Especially in Madre Darra’s house this becomes apparent. The women dress up in similar white puffy dresses and wear head cloths to convey their equality and sense for tradition.
When it comes to women, their clothing also conveys their either prude or open attitude. While Naína wears a classical dress, Cota wears a very revealing dress. Costumes symbolize status, and attitude. Most of this movie’s symbology is transmitted through the character’s attitudes and costumes. We see less amount of clothing (shirtless men) in the lowest ranges of power. Costume inspires pleasure, and freedom, or lack of it. No clothes/revealing clothes is linked to the lack of freedom, which turns out to be reversed at the end.

Timecode

00:07:55,00:50:21

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Hair and Makeup

Example

Cutting Naína's Hair

Explanation

Make-up is not used to depict the protagonists as natural as possible.
Hair does not play a huge role for the men. In the case of the women, the hair plays a larger role. As mentioned above, women wear hair cloths in rituals, conveying traditional gender-roles, and their conventional attitude towards life. During the ritual Naína’s hair gets cut, a process which is usually interpreted as the beginning of a new chapter for a woman. Cota’s hair is short since the beginning of the movie illustrating her more traditional standing in the community.

Timecode

01:10:21

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Figure Behavior

Example

Naína

Explanation

The gestures and facial expressions are often extremely dramatic. Examples include the close-up of Naína’s face during the ritual in Madre Darra’s house or the fight between Arua and Firmino that rather look like choreographed dancing than actual fighting. Additionally, the dances in this movie help illustrate the social structure of the village and the people within it. The movements in this movie help highlight the different levels of social hierarchy and how the characters relate to each other.

Timecode

00:52:29

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Representative Clip

Explanation

Fishermen walking with the net towards the sea. Illustration of their fate being connected together. It illustrates the lifestyle the fisherman lead, and how Firmino is trying to change their entire society. We see in their lack of clothing, how ideologically powerless these men are, and we see Frimino, all dressed up, invading them with his ideas from the city. Moreover, this scene includes Firmino cutting the net, which is the moment that really pushes the conflict to the forefront of the movie. This contradiction between the beliefs of the village and Firmino’s beliefs from the city are the foundation for the conflict of the movie, as the tension between traditional beliefs and more revolutionary beliefs are pitted against one another; however, the cutting of the net is where the tension starts to manifest into something physical. Additionally, this scene illustrates the natural lighting, which helps set the scene of the entire movie. This moment is pivotal to understanding the relationships between the characters, and illustrates the social, economic, and cultural beliefs that the different characters have.

Timecode

00:29:22

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This is the art of photography and visual storytelling in a motion picture or television show. Cinematography comprises all on-screen visual elements, including lighting, framing, composition, camera motion, camera angles, film selection, lens choices, depth of field, zoom, focus, color, exposure, and filtration. Cinematography sets and supports the overall look and mood of a film’s visual narrative. Each visual element that appears on screen, a.k.a. the mise-en-scène of a film, can serve and enhance the story—so it is the cinematographer’s responsibility to ensure that every element is cohesive and support the story. Filmmakers often choose to spend the majority of their budget on high-quality cinematography to guarantee that the film will look incredible on the big screen.

Point of View

Point of View

Objective

Comments

The predominant point of view is objective. For most of the movie, the camera is a sideline observer and does not participate in the movie. However, there are scenes that are director's interpretive, where the viewer sees a close up of Naína's facial expressions. Additionally, there are scenes of indirect subjective, where the viewer is brought close to the action, but not from the viewpoint of a character. Though there are times when the point of view is not objective, the use of an objective point of view allows the viewer to get a full understanding of the scene. They are able to understand the perspectives of different characters and see why they interact the way they do.

Timecode

00:36:58

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Quality

Quality

Contrast

Comments

With the movie being in black in white, there are parts of the movie where the characters have a very large contrast with the background and there are parts where it is very little. The contrast depends on the lighting and clothing of the characters. For example, the women in this film often wear white, which in the scenes shot at night makes them stand out from the rest of the scene. In contrast, when the women are wearing white on the beach during the day, the lighting and white of the dress makes them blend into the sand.

Timecode

00:47:34

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Quality

Depth of Field

Comments

There are several scenes where the characters of the film are having a conversation and there is another character standing off in the background. Moreover, there are scenes where the characters are in the foreground and the ocean is the background. This makes the scene appear significantly larger, especially when the men are fishing. It allows the viewer to see what it is like to like in Buraquinho, while also still being able to understand the social dynamics of the different characters.

Timecode

00:08:48

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Quality

Deep Focus

Comments

There are many scenes that have deep focus. Many of these scenes include the beach and the ocean, which make the scene feel much larger. For example, there are several scenes where there are interactions between characters on the beach and another character in the background. It makes the viewer focus on the scene as a whole, rather than a particular part of the scene or character.

Timecode

00:08:19

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Quality

Shallow Focus

Comments

In contrast to the scenes with deep focus, the scenes with shallow focus make the viewer focus on a particular detail or character. This highlights something that is important to the plot of the film or a pivotal moment in a character’s life. In this film, since there are so many scenes with a deep focus, the shallow focus highlights an event the director wants the viewer to remember or pay attention to. One example is a conversation between two characters on a raft. They are discussing the village and some of the problems. Another example is when Naína walks into the hut with all of the women, the camera focuses on her expression of confusion, shock, and horror. With this closeup, the viewer understands that she is not excited about whatever is going to happen. It is a pivotal moment to Naína, and by focusing on her expression, the director is able to emphasize its importance.

Timecode

00:42:58

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Quality

Exposure

Comments

The exposure in this film is connected to the natural lighting and other light sources. Though it does not seem entirely intention, the exposure on different props or characters draws the viewer’s eye. One of the scenes where exposure is important is when Naína goes into the hut with the older women. She is so shocked that she faints. In this scene, there is almost an ethereal glow on the older women’s dresses. The exposure draws the viewer’s eyes to the older women and highlights their importance in the film.

Timecode

00:23:20

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Framing

Framing

Level Angle

Comments

The majority of the angle framing in this film are level angle or low angle. The level angle shots are directly level with the characters. This allows the viewer to feel as though they are a part of the action. One of the scenes with level angle framing is when the people of Buraquinho watch the two fishermen go to deeper waters after their net was destroyed by Firmino. Since the viewer is on a level angle, they are able to see the fishermen getting smaller and smaller as they paddle away. This allows the audience to feel the anxiety that the members of the village feel in that moment.

Timecode

00:48:06

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Framing

Low Angle

Comments

The other predominant angle framing is low angle. This framing usually occurs when characters are having a conversation or looking up to a leader in that moment. Once again, when Firmino is trying to get the fishermen to rebel against the capitalist owner of the net and oppressive nature of how they are living. When Firmino is speaking, the viewer is looking up at him, as if they are a part of the village hearing his speech. The low angle framing gives the audience the feeling as if they are a part of the action, rather than sitting on the sidelines looking in.

Timecode

00:29:47

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Scale

Scale

Long Shot

Comments

“Barravento” has many different scales in it. The film predominantly uses long shots as a way to show the full body of the character and some of the background. The long shot scenes are used when the whole village is together, or there is a lot of movement in the scene. For example, when Aruã and Firmino fight for the first time, the viewer is able to see the entirety of their bodies and some of the background. This allows the audience to get an understanding of a larger scale, rather than just the movements or expressions of one character. Though long shots are used for many scenes, the initial scene of the movie is an extreme long shot, which helps set the scene of the film. There are other extreme long shots throughout the film, which again give more of an overarching perspective of the village and the dynamics between characters. The other most common scales are medium shots and medium close up shots. These shots are used to highlight individual conversations between characters or the reaction of an individual character. Finally, there are several extreme close up shots that focus on the expression of an individual character. These shots are used to highlight a specific moment in time, usually one that is important to the plot or evolution of a character’s personality.

Timecode

00:17:09

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Movement

Movement

Handheld Camera (Steady Camera)

Comments

In this film, there are several different types of movements and shots. First, there are several scenes that are crane shots. These shots give a cinematic view due to the way the audience is able to get a bird’s eye view. It gives the opportunity for an individual to get an understanding of the setting. There are also several examples of pan shots. Again, this gives the audience the opportunity to understand the layout of the scene and how different characters are interacting with one another. However, the most common movements in the film are hand held cameras and tracking shots. The hand held camera shots are used when characters are discussing or there is an important scene. For example, when Cota is walking down to the beach to seduce Aruã, the camera is stationary and focuses on her movements. This shot leads up to the beginning of the climax of the movie. Thus, the focus on Cota only emphasizes how important this moment is to the plot. The other important movement in the film is tracking shots. These shots help show the layout of the scene or highlights the action. For example, when Firmino is walking down the beach to destroy the net, the camera tracks his movements and actions. It gives the viewer a chance to anticipate what might happen next and adds a level of anticipation.

Timecode

00:50:40

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Editing is the process of putting a film together–the selection and arrangement of shots and scenes. Editing can condense space and time, emphasize separate elements and bring them together, and organize material in such a way that patterns of meaning become apparent. In addition, editing can determine how a film is perceived: for instance, quick, rapid cuts can create a feeling of tension, while a long take can create a more dramatic effect. The first photoplays generally had no cutting, owing to the fact that they were single-reel films; once filming began, you could not stop until the film ran out. (https://filmglossary.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/term/editing/)

Coherence, Continuity, and Rhythym

Comments

The rhythm of this movie tries to reflect the continuous but slow-paced flow of life at the beach. The story happens within a continuous time frame, which makes it easier to make smooth transitions between shots. It is a very coherent movie, where the different shots meaningfully build up to the climax at the end. All of the lighting, sound, and editing help push the plot of the movie forward in a way that is both visually pleasing, especially for the time it was produced, and illustrates the underlying political message. Finally, the way the movie is shot highlights the contraction between modernity and tradition.

Timecode

00:34:35

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Editing Style

Editing Style

Continuity Editing

Comments

This film consists mostly of continuity editing. The cuts between shots are related and flow from one to the next. While the editing itself is cross-cutting or simple cut scenes, all of the scenes flow from one to the next. Additionally, the use of diegetic sound helps create the feeling of continuity editing, due to the fact that the viewer is able to see the sounds coming from the scene. These different aspects of the editing help create a chronological timeline, where the viewer is able to easily follow the plot.

Timecode

00:39:40

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Transitions

Match

Eyeline

Comments

This film has both eyeline match and graphic match cuts. First, the eyeline match cuts demonstrate the action in the film. Many of the scenes on the beach have the camera at the eyeline of the characters. For example, when the fishermen are dragging in the net, the viewer is level with the action. Additionally, when Firmino is trying to convince the village to rebel against the owner of the net and the policeman, the viewer feels as though they are sitting with the men looking up to what Firmino is saying. When the film cuts to the policeman, the viewer is on the same level as the policeman and the action.

Timecode

00:37:45

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Match

Match

Graphic

Comments

The graphic match cuts of the film help transition the viewer through the plot and highlights the similarities between different groups of people. For example, there is a scene where a group of men are sitting in a circle discussing before it transitions to a parallel group of women sitting in a circle. The use of this cut helps the viewer see what is going on in different parts of the scene.

Timecode

00:39:40,00:39:48

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Sound is an integral part in a film. It refers to everything that the audience hears including sound effects, words and music. Sound is used in films for various purposes, including: providing the information to the viewer about the location of the scene, heightening the mood, telling the audience about the characters and advancing the plot. Every person who watches a film realizes that the choice of voices, soundtrack and music present in a film affect the way that the viewer perceives a particular film. As a result, the sound is an important and integral element of the film, one that determines the way that the viewer experiences and understands a film as a visual experience.

Sound Type

Sound Type

Diegetic

Comments

The majority of the film has diegetic sound. The sounds of film come from the characters speaking or the drums. That being said, there are parts of the film that are non-diegetic, where the viewer sees the drums in one scene and the drumming then continues into the next frame. These parts of the film help build suspense and energy, as they occur during the fighting scenes or leading up to the climax. In the beginning of the movie there is singing in the background. This music helps introduce the film and set the scene for the rest of the movie.

Timecode

00:04:45

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Narrative analysis is an examination of the story elements, including narrative structure, character, and plot. A narrative can be considered to be the chain of events in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time and space. In order to analyze the narrative of a film, we need to first make the distinction between the plot of the film and the story of the film. This is sometimes referred to as the discourse and story of a film. Narrative may also be called the story thought story mainly refers to the events that describe the narrative.

Plot Comments

Comments

"Barravento" starts by Firmino returning from the city in order to help liberate Buraquinho from the oppression of a capitalist society and move it to a more modern era. Aruã does not want the village to change and wants to continue to honor its traditions and religion. At this time, most of the village agrees with Aruã. In order to combat this, Firmino cuts the village’s main fishing net, which leaves them with no fish, their main source of income. This makes the owner of the net and the police arrive at the village. Firmino then tries to get the village to revolt with him against the capitalist and oppressive nature of society; however, while they agree with his principles, they still do not revolt and change their way of life. Now that the net is destroyed, the fisherman have to go to deeper waters on rafts in order to try and catch fish. While this is happening, there is also a struggle between Cota, Naína, Firmino, and Aruã. Cota wants to be with Firmino, Firmino wants to be with Naína, and Naína wants to be with Aruã. Firmino convinces Cota to sleep with Aruã due to the fact that his traditional ways of trying to change the ways of the village are not working. However, Aruã is supposed to be protected on the open water due to his virginity, when he loses this protection, two villagers die on the open sea, symbolically starting barravento. After this, the village still does not change its way of life, but Aruã is shunned from the village. Due to this, he decides to go to the city to try and make money to buy a new net.

Timecode

00:45:10

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Story Comments

Comments

The story of "Barravento" is about a man, Firmino, who returns to his village in order to try and change their way of life. He wants them to see the injustices of the capitalist society and revolt with him against the people who are causing them harm. Though he has good intentions, the people of Buraquinho are loyal to its traditions and religion, which makes it difficult for Firmino to change their minds in a traditional way: directly seeing the injustice that they face. Due to this, Firmino uses their religion against them in order to try and change their minds. Ultimately, Aruã is ostracized and leaves for the city, but the village itself does not change.

Timecode

00:53:51

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Narrator Type

Narrator Type

Third Person

Comments

The narrator of the film is third person omniscient. The narrator is not part of the action, but rather is watching from the outside. Additionally, the narrator is able to see different events in the village that are happening at the same time. This gives it the impression that the narrator and the viewer know more about what is going on than the characters themselves. Moreover, the narrator can be seen as reliable since there are no biases or hidden agendas.

Timecode

00:34:41

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Narrative Structure

Narrative Structure

Chronological / Lineal

Comments

The structure of this film is chronological lineal. The entire movie follows the story of the village and what happens once Firmino returns from the city and ends with Aruã leaving. Though there are references to past relationships, the movie follows the events in chronological order. Moreover, the movie is not in media res due to the fact that the drama of Buraquinho begins once Firmino returns, which is where the movie begins.

Timecode

00:11:12

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Film genres are various forms or identifiable types, categories, classifications or groups of films. (Genre comes from the French word meaning "kind," "category," or "type"). These provide a convenient way for scriptwriters and film-makers to produce, cast and structure their narratives within a manageable, well-defined framework. Genres also offer the studios an easily 'marketable' product, and give audiences satisfying, expected and predictable choices. Genres refers to recurring, repeating and similar, familiar or instantly-recognizable patterns, styles, themes, syntax, templates, paradigms, motifs, rules or generic conventions.

Category

Category

Feature Films (40 min or more)

Comments

This movie is both a feature film and a drama. The film lasts an hour and twenty minutes, and includes many of the characteristics of a drama. First, music is used throughout the movie to help build suspense and indicate key moments in the plot. Moreover, the characters are easily defined as good or bad. Aruã can be seen as the main hero of the movie, as he is trying to maintain the way of life in the village. Firmino can be seen as the villain, due to the fact that he causes chaos and disruption. These two contrasting characters are opposed throughout the whole film and can be seen as a struggle between good and evil. Though "Barravento" is a drama, it differentiates from the normal characteristics with its ending. Most dramas have a happy ending where all conflict is resolved. In "Barravento" the ending is not entirely positive as Aruã is shunned from the village and decides to leave for the city.

Timecode

01:16:25

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