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Madame Satã

Play trailer Poster for Madame Satã 2003 1h 45m Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
60% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the 1930s slums of Rio de Janeiro, João Francisco dos Santos (Lázaro Ramos) is many things -- the son of black slaves, an ex-con who spent more than two decades in prison, a gangster, a homosexual, and patriarch to a surrogate family of social outcasts. João seeks an outlet of expression through a cabaret act, where he cultivates the transvestite stage persona Madame Satã and becomes a revolutionary icon for society's neglected during a time of upheaval in post-abolition Brazil.
Madame Satã

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Madame Satã offers an occasionally absorbing look at a pivotal figure in Brazilian culture, even if its subject deserves a more consistent biopic.

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Critics Reviews

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Liam Lacey Globe and Mail Often captivating. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 7, 2003 Full Review Erik Lundegaard Seattle Times A myopic, histrionic picture that never lets us know why this legendary character is legendary, and worthy of our attention. Rated: 2/4 Oct 31, 2003 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle While the depiction of the Lapa district and the details of repressed homosexual life in Rio 10 years ago is always intriguing, we come away learning very little about the individual known as Madame Sat. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 27, 2003 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter Madame Sata portrays a real-life Brazilian folk hero, a popular criminal and minor cabaret star who, while certainly no Robin Hood, did capture the turbulent spirit of a corrupt frontier society where people of color were relegated to the margins... Jun 12, 2020 Full Review Donald J. Levit ReelTalk Movie Reviews The film's non-dramatic but exhilarating finale is what clings most memorably. Sep 6, 2006 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Confronting, rancid, tantalising, with sex you can almost smell. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Gritty depiction of a Brazilian slum in the 1930s. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Even if you do not like the characters, this is a REAL movie with REAL people and it is an Oscar worthy film. I submitted this one to Flixster after watching late one night. I was amazed at the marvelous acting. You must see this one! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Captivated? Not really. Didn't sink in with me too well. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member assez etrange notamment en raison de la nature des personnages et du caractere assez lunatique de "Madame Sata". Bon jeu de jambe pour la Capoeira ;) Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Lárazo Ramos were great in this movie ... really enjoyed it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Madame Satã

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Cast & Crew

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Karim Aïnouz

Director

Lázaro Ramos

João Francisco dos Santos

Marcélia Cartaxo

Laurita

Giovana Barbosa

Firmina

Fellipe Marques

Renatinho

Flávio Bauraqui

Tabu

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Madame Satã

Madame Satã (2002) Madame Satã (2002) Madame Satã (2002) Madame Satã (2002) A scene from the film MADAME SATA. A scene from the film MADAME SATA. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1930s slums of Rio de Janeiro, João Francisco dos Santos (Lázaro Ramos) is many things -- the son of black slaves, an ex-con who spent more than two decades in prison, a gangster, a homosexual, and patriarch to a surrogate family of social outcasts. João seeks an outlet of expression through a cabaret act, where he cultivates the transvestite stage persona Madame Satã and becomes a revolutionary icon for society's neglected during a time of upheaval in post-abolition Brazil.
Director
Karim Aïnouz
Producer
Marc Beauchamps, Isabel Diegues, Vincent Maraval, Maurício Andrade Ramos, Donald Ranvaud, Juliette Renaud, Walter Salles
Screenwriter
Karim Aïnouz, Marcelo Gomes, Sérgio Machado, Mauricio Zacharias
Distributor
Wellspring Cinema
Production Co
Dominant 7
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 9, 2003, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$198.2K
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo