For those who enjoy a soap opera, Brazil is fertile ground, as the overwhelming majority of general TV channels in the country transmit, on average, four soap operas daily. Invariably, much of this material eventually goes around the world, being bought and broadcast in other countries. One of the most permeable markets for Brazilian teledramaturgy is, of course, my country, due to its cultural and linguistic proximity. I watched "O Rei do Gado" at the premiere in Portugal in 1997, and more recently last year when it was reprised.
The story begins with a deadly rivalry between two families of Italian immigrants, the Mezenga and the Berdinazzi, because of the demarcation of their lands. An unlikely love is born between the young Enrico Mezenga and the daughter of the Berdinazzi patriarch, Giovanna, ending in death. But their son, Bruno Mezenga, manages to claim their inheritance and becomes the richest Brazilian cattle breeder, the "King of Cattle". But he doesn't know anyone in his mother's family, who has left the region. He knows only that there is a maternal uncle, Geremias, who also became a rich farmer. He gives up on his failed marriage and falls in love with Luana, a young beautiful and poor rural worker who was raised an orphan. At the same time, old Geremias seeks out his only niece, in order to give her his immense fortune.
This is undoubtedly the soap opera that consecrated Antônio Fagundes as one of the most notable Brazilian dramatic actors today. He was the main actor here, and did his role in a truly masterful way. Beside him, the young Patricia Pillar, here also obtaining her consecration. Alongside these two great actors was always a wonderful supporting cast, lead by veterans Raul Cortez, Eva Wilma and Tarcísio Meira. I really enjoyed the participation of all of them, as well as the performances of Letícia Spiller, Silvia Pfeifer and Glória Pires. Undoubtedly, the most notable soap opera of the nineties.
