I was inclined to not give a rating to this piece as I didn't find suitable to qualify on "good/bad" terms. How could someone say they enjoyed
seeing misery and hopelessness of poor families dealing with drought, violence and famine while trying to earn a living in the poor areas of Northeast
during one of the worst draughts? And how could one complain about the negative aspects of the film for whatever idea is trying to put forward? It's
complicated. The rating merely reflects presentation of the material, but never what it's shown (maybe some moments here and there didn't help).
Maybe the problem with "A Terra Queima" ("The Land Burns") relates to what it's trying to achieve, either being a documentary that goes almost
as a news report which showcases the situation faced by rural workers or if it's tying to sent a message to authorities about their situation and how
those issues of low payment, food/water distribution and others could be solved. We don't see a direct plea to governments (except when an union leader makes a speech at an event) but it's there. I'll say it's a noble effort, it probably opened some eyes to the Northeast situation and in 1985 the
musicial project "Nordeste Já" was released destined to guarantee funds to help the region but it didn't help all that much, as the situation remained
in the 1990's where bigger aid and campaigns were developed. Still goes on from time to time.
Geraldo Sarno's presentation of everything is a constant on/off where you care about the people but don't care about the movie. Whenever the facts
are becoming tiring and repetitive he always finds a way to wake you up from lethargy with the talks of death. Two revolve about rural leaders killed
by poachers who took over their lands and were opposed about land distributions or its markings.
Another one comes when dealing about child mortality,
the number of children who die of hunger and malnutrition at an early age is shocking; and to make viewers reflect upon the issue comes the most
memorable and haunting sequence of a baby's funeral, attended by several children and the only adults are the parents preparing the grave. The tiny
coffin (if it is one) looks like a shoe box; the baby's eyes were wide open; and the crowd of kids are just there in curiosity, moving around but silent
and no tears or commotion are heard. An image that I won't forget too soon.
If looking at everything as a news report, of which gets many elements, then it's a poor one with an interviewer who not only sounds aggressive
with his questionings but also makes some dumb questions that were already answered by the locals - like when the 38-year old peasant talks about
being rejected for work as he'd lost a lung yet the interviewer keeps pushing "Why don't you work?" and the man already had said he couldn't because of
the lost lung, no health for heavy work.
I wish I wouldn't be so negative about it, or at least that my mindset could totally immersed with the film. The cause, as seen by many great
news reports, is valid, worth helping and analysing on possible and effective solutions. Perhaps what's missing the most is showing the politics,
someone in charge of everything to show up and tell what's been done and what's not to help that population in order they can stay and live where they are, with dignity and earning their labor's sweat, rather than moving to the big cities where the misery won't fade so easily and the struggle continues. 5/10.
