"The Conspirators" greatest asset at the time of its release when of the 150th anniversary of Brazil's independence might have charmed many critics and
some audiences back then, but when in more contemporary years this same asset is one that is troubling and doesn't help much the movie. The asset in question is
presenting historical facts from freedom fighter Tiradentes and his wealthy friends who wanted to fight for the independence of Brazil from Portugal's reign, and
the movie presents such facts as they happened since director Joaquim Pedro de Andrade had access to the court transcripts that condemned Tiradentes and the
conspirators (but the man was the only one executed). It's a fine movie, nonetheless, but far from being amazingly impressive.
Another great asset to the film was that by being true to the facts, Andrade made a great metaphorical work against the then current military regime
of which he could criticise by showing Tiradentes inquistors as torturers who serve for the benefit of the nation, as the military were but didn't say so.
Competing against the independence flick "Independência ou Morte" which focuses on Emperor Pedro I cutting ties with Portugal, a story that takes 30 years
after this one, Andrade focuses on the trailblazer for the independence cause, here played by the always effective José Wilker. While that movie is a
patriotic libel of many sorts, this one seems to escape that route a little and it really shows how Portugal was an iron commander with unfair rulings and
taxes hence why the established people living here wanted to escape their domination and live with freedom and dignity.
But back to what was said earlier. Why the movie's greatest asset loses its point now? It got excessively wordy, excessively poetic and it loses
life and reality instead becoming a small play where all actors have a place under the spotlight with eloquent quotes and gestures, and most of the time is
difficult to follow and quite tiring - specially towards the ending and the most brutal and known moment of all in the historical case isn't featured here.
But on the other hand, no one can say the movie was a pure work of fiction without any historical base. It was history as it happened (obviously not 100%)
but truth of the matter is that sometimes being truthful to facts don't always mean great or fantastic experiences to be seen.
For those who can see the film beyond itself and look objectively at the period in which was made and clearly see the metaphors done by Andrade and
company then you'll find in "The Conspirators" a brilliant piece of filmmaking, and for those who want to know more about the final days of the Incofidência
Mineira movement this is quite informative but lacking a little of more background. A fine movie but beward of seeing plenty of lenghty dialogues and poetry,
and very little action. Well acted by everyone in the cast which includes Wilson Grey (playing Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, the movement's traitor), Paulo César
Pereio, Fernando Torres, Fábio Sabag, Carlos Kroeber and Carlos Gregório among others. Also worthy of mention is the period recreation, filmed in the historical Minas Gerais, with many preserved places that still carry the same architecture of the 18th century. 6/10.
