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Behind the Sun

PG-13 Released Apr 19, 2002 1h 45m Drama List
74% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 88% Audience Score 2,500+ Ratings
"Behind the Sun" tells the story of two families locked in a generations-old deadly feud. It started out as a battle over land, but now it's escalated into a series of reprisals that is claiming the lives of the young men on both sides. In one family, the oldest remaining son - distressed by the prospect of death and encouraged by his younger brother - begins to question the cycle of violence. That's when a beautiful young woman from a traveling circus crosses his path. Read More Read Less
Behind the Sun

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Visually poetic, Behind the Sun is a powerful statement about cycles of violence.

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Critics Reviews

View All (46) Critics Reviews
Hank Sartin Chicago Reader The appearance of circus performers in any film not by Fellini usually bodes ill, and it does so here. Apr 1, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 5/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Mark Caro Chicago Tribune A bleak, beautiful cinematic fable driven by the brutal logic of blood feuds and transformed by an overpowering sense of wonder. Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 20, 2002 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: B- Jul 3, 2005 Full Review Chris Barsanti Film Threat a family saga told with all the muscle of the best Sergio Leone western. Rated: 3/5 Nov 12, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (151) audience reviews
jordan m They did a great job drawing me into what was ultimately not a particularly riveting storyline. The pacing, color palette and moments of high stakes action, paired with the relatively brief runtime, did more than enough to make this an enjoyable viewing experience. The plot reminded me of the intense feud that my in-laws have witnessed between their two neighbors who share a driveway with each other as there have been punches thrown over it, but otherwise I didn't think very highly of it because the entire generations-long feud was apparently resolved by the guy just leaving to join the circus. Why didn't anyone else think of that? I should also note that I was much less cynical than I might otherwise have been with this one because of how much work I had to put in to be able to view it. I couldn't find it anywhere with English subtitles, so I ended up on some obscure website whose media player accepted a subtitle text file that I found on another website I'd never visited. I was sure I was gonna have to skip this one and had almost given up when I found that, so the movie had no choice but to be a rewarding experience for me! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful narrative with epic proportions, Abril Despedaçado finds love in the middle of the cycle of violence and introduces a powerful element of hope into the lives of condemned characters. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Not quite sure what all the fuss is about... Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Sparse and poignant telling of a blood feud in 1910's Brazil. Great photography and solid acting. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Eu gosto muito do Walter Salles e esse filme é simplesmente maravilhoso. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This film was very well made. It actually makes you dizzy from the plot to the ending and swings you along for the tramatic ride. deserves the 5 stars I gave it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Behind the Sun

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Behind the Sun

Rodrigo Santoro in Walter Salles' BEHIND THE SUN. Director Walter Salles on location for BEHIND THE SUN. Ravi Ramos Lacerda in Walter Salles' BEHIND THE SUN. Rodrigo Santoro in Walter Salles' BEHIND THE SUN. (l to r): Rodrigo Santoro and Ravi Ramos Lacerda in Walter Salles' BEHIND THE SUN. (l to r): Flavia Marco Antonio, Luis Carlos Vasconcelos (back) and Rodrigo Santoro in a scene from Walter Salles' BEHIND THE SUN. Rodrigo Santoro in Walter Salles' BEHIND THE SUN. Behind the Sun (2001) Behind the Sun (2001) Behind the Sun (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis "Behind the Sun" tells the story of two families locked in a generations-old deadly feud. It started out as a battle over land, but now it's escalated into a series of reprisals that is claiming the lives of the young men on both sides. In one family, the oldest remaining son - distressed by the prospect of death and encouraged by his younger brother - begins to question the cycle of violence. That's when a beautiful young woman from a traveling circus crosses his path.
Director
Walter Salles
Producer
Arthur Cohn
Screenwriter
Karim Aïnouz, Ismail Kadaré, Sérgio Machado, Walter Salles
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Dan Valley Film AG
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violence|Scene of Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 19, 2002, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 11, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA)
$64.2K
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)