Madame Sata

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Madame Sata ★★ 2002

Frist feature for director Karim Ainouz is a stylized portrait of Joao Francisco dos Santos, who became a legend in the slums and prisons of Brazil as both a criminal and the cabaret performer Madame Sata. The film covers a period in 1930s Rio showcasing Joao's (Ramos) life at the Blue Danube club where he performs and the boardinghouse where he lives with his readymade family—hooker Laurita (Cartaxo) and her baby daughter and flamboyant hustler Taboo (Bauraqui). Ramos gives a compelling performance of a sometimes violent character who lives his life without apologies. Portuguese with subtitles. 105m/C VHS, DVD . BR FR Lazaro Ramos, Marcella Cartaxo, Flavio Bauraqui, Felippe Marques; D: Karim Ainouz; W: Karim Ainouz; C: Walter Carvalho; M: Marcos Suzano, Sacha Ambak.