The amazing first scene of "The man who was turned to juice" indicates that this is not an ordinary movie, but a very special film which should be much more remembered and referenced. That impression was not false at all. This is the story of the funny main character, Deraldo, brilliantly portrayed by always excellent actor José Dumont, who is accused of murder. While trying not to be arrested, Deraldo survives with difficulties but does not accept the subordinate position that is expected from a poor guy like him, who came from Brazilian Northeast to huge and urban São Paulo town to improve his life (tough also living in bad conditions and suffering prejudice). This is a clever movie about class and labor relations, about center x periphery (or also modern x traditional), about salaried work, about the subordination of citizenship to formal inclusion. Other issues are also well treated concurrently, such as the macho culture, misogyny, illiteracy, the persecution of street workers, the values of military dictatorship and repression against unions, the generation contrasts, spectacularization of poverty, Brazilian economy... Both the dialogues and cinematography are great. The soundtrack is very well chosen, representing both Northeastern culture and the social and economic issues treated in the movie. All the actors do a great job but, as already mentioned in this review, José Dumont performs in a higher level, he is nothing but superb! Both he and the movie itself won international prizes. Nobody can deny that is is absolutely deserved. To resume, is there a place for poetry in this harsh world? Is there a place for rebellion? How not to be smashed?
