Product Details

• Actors: Alan Arkin, Pedro Cardoso, Fernanda Torres, Luiz Fernando Guimarăes, Cláudia Abreu
• Directors: Bruno Barreto
• Writers: Fernando Gabeira, Leopoldo Serran
• Producers: Adair Roberto Carneiro, Cristina Cirne, Lucy Barreto, Lucíola Vilella, Luiz Carlos Barreto
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English, Portuguese
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Miramax
• VHS Release Date: January 2, 2001
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304938713
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,157 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In 1969, the democratically elected government of Brazil was toppled and a military dictatorship took its place. The junta ruled through terror and intimidation, torturing political enemies, controlling the press, and severely curtailing freedoms. A group of Che Guevara-worshipping Marxist radicals (the MR-8) plotted to kidnap an American diplomat (Alan Arkin) to force the government to meet their demands. The college radicals hooked up with two senior revolutionaries, an avuncular veteran of the Spanish Civil War and a cold, ruthlessly intense younger man who becomes their commandant. What could easily have become an overwrought drama is instead played out in understatement. The middle-class radicals falter more than once when it looks like they will indeed have to execute their captive; their counterparts in the government's secret police grapple with their consciences when it comes to torture and terror. Arkin is excellent as Charles Elbrick, the diplomat; his conversations with his abductors bring out his humanity as the deadline draws near. Overall, the film--which receieved a Best Foreign-Language Oscar nomination--has a sense of tension and claustrophobia that is as oppressive as the clammy Rio de Janeiro humidity. This is a thoughtful political drama with emotional depth, well-drawn characters, and excellent direction. (Incidentally, the radicals' commitment paid off in 1979, when Brazil's democracy was restored and all political prisoners were given amnesty.) Stuart Copeland provides the excellent score, along with '60s-period bossa nova music. --Jerry Renshaw

From The New Yorker

In 1969, a group of young Brazilian terrorists kidnapped the American ambassador, demanding the release of imprisoned colleagues. Bruno Barreto's surprisingly placid movie remains faithful to the facts, but this fidelity brings problems. When a dreamy Marxist utters a line as corny as "The time is ripe for revolution," is that a period detail or a flaw in the script? Barreto's pacing, right up to the mild climax, is more assured than his grasp of character. The problem is that everyone seems to engage not only his interest but also his sympathy: Fernando (Pedro Cardoso), the kidnapper on whose memoir the movie was based, is nagged by doubt, and even the secret-service agent who specializes in torture is unable to sleep at night. At the time, Brazil was a military state plagued by subversion-so where are the hard men? The best reason to see the picture is Alan Arkin, who plays the ambassador; this role, too, is softly written, but Arkin redeems it with a clipped and dignified rigor. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intelligent and moving historical drama, June 8, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Four Days in September [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Brazil, 1969. The country is under the control of an oppressive military regime. A group of idealistic students join an underground revolutionary group in protest. Out of this climate of paranoia and violence, a bold plan is conceived: a plot to kidnap the U.S. ambassador to Brazil. This true story forms the basis for the excellent film "Four Days in September," directed by Bruno Barreto.

I have seen many historical films, and this is one of the best. There are no cardboard heroes or villains in this film; there are lots of moral shades of gray. Are these students terrorists or freedom fighters? Is the ambassador an innocent victim, or an ally of oppressive forces?

Leopoldo Serran's intelligent script is based on Fernando Gabeira's book "O Que E Isso, Companhiero?" The dialogue offers thought-provoking insights into the minds of the individuals involved in these events. The cast gives universally superb performances; particularly impressive is veteran U.S. actor Alan Arkin as Ambassador Charles Elbrick. The film as a whole is well complemented by a memorable musical soundtrack. Barreto's direction is both suspenseful and sensitive. Whether you are interested in Latin American history or just enjoy a well-made drama, I highly recommend this film.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch this movie: 60's in Brazil must not be forgotten, August 23, 1999

By 

Márcio Padilha (Twin Falls, ID, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Four Days in September [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I think this movie was fantastic, but, first of all, in order to understand it, one must watch it trying to understand the socio-political reality of that time in Brazil. I was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1970 and lived there until 1995 and as a Brazilian Citizen who went through a part of the historical period shown in that movie, I must say I thought it was sad such a thing happened and even sadder the fact "Four Days in September" portrays a true story. However, I must also say that I am very happy that the Dictatorship Period, which started to be extremely harsh in Brazil during the 60's, has not been thrown into an old trunk of things to be forgotten. It is fantastic that we Brazilians are striving to keep those memories alive until all the shadows of that period be completely gone. Also, I must confess I thought it to be even greater that the originality of one young man, "Fernando Gabeira", and the courage and audacy of a few other young "Comrades" were able to bend the Dictatorial Military structure of Brazil so fast. A big kiss on all involved with this project, specially to "Cláudia Abreu" who has been on my mind since she played "Heloísa" in "Anos Rebeldes", a Brazilian TV Series on the Brazilian Military Dictatorship Period as well. May we never forget the 60's so they cannot ever come back! Valeu, gente! Márcio Padilha

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great movie in spite of some minor inaccuracies, May 31, 2004

By 

Emilio Dreyer Pacheco (Porto Alegre, Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Four Days in September (DVD)

This movie faced a lot of criticism in Brazil for the liberties it took with history. Some criticism dates back to the publication of Fernando Gabeira's book, mainly the fact that Gabeira's importance in the kidnapping is overplayed. Other survivors from the operation claim he did not write the note to the press, as the movie shows. Also, a girl did try to get information from the Ambassador's security man, but she did not spend the night with him (and those who like to spot errors may notice the fact that he calls her by her code name, René, even though she introduced herself by a different name). And one just has to read other books about those days in Brazil to realize most torturers were sick animals, not guilt-ridden human beings like the guy in the movie.

In spite of all these flaws, the movie still works admirably as a snapshot of an era. I understand it was rather easy to sell this movie to the international market because Alan Arkin is in it and the event it is based on involved the kidnapping of an American ambassador. But it would be great if people all over the world could also see another movie titled "Pra Frente Brasil". The story is fictitious but inspired by actual facts: while the 1970 World Cup is taking place and the whole Brazilian population is glued to television sets, a guy is captured by mistake and tortured to death by the police. Brazil won that World Cup, so the whole country was in a celebratory mood while the horrors of repression were happening in the underground.