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Madame Satã - Lázaro Ramos, Marcelia Cartaxo, Flavio Bauraqui, Karim Ainouz

Threat advisory: Under evaluation

Movie propaganda

Hustler, dreamer, devil, saint.

Loose portrait of João Francisco dos Santos, also known as Madame Sata, a sometime chef, transvestite, lover, father, hero and convict from Rio de Janeiro.Madame Sata is inspired by the life of one of the most remarkable figures in Brazilian popular culture, João Francisco dos Santos (1900-1976).

Bandit, transvestite, street fighter, brothel cook, convict and father to seven adopted children, João - better known as Madame Satã - was also a notorious gay performer who pushed social boundaries in a volatile time. The story begins in 1932, in Rio de Janeiro's bohemian Lapa district, when João is about to achieve his dream: becoming a stage star.

In the sordid yet lively world of Lapa, populated by pimps, prostitutes and other denizens of Rio's underworld, João battles the streets and presides over a surrogate family that includes the charming prostitute Laurita, and her baby daughter whom everyone dotes on; the flamboyant hustler Taboo; João's teenage lover, Renatinho; and Amador, the owner of the Blue Danube club, which is their second home. It's at the Blue Danube where João begins to sing, and the mythic drag artiste Madame Satã is born.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film biography João Francisco dos Santos Brazil transvestite chef gay 1930s drag

Persons of interest

Lázaro Ramos .... Madame Satã/João Francisco dos Santos
Marcelia Cartaxo .... Laurita
Flavio Bauraqui .... Tabu
Fellipe Marques .... Renatinho
Emiliano Queiroz .... Amador
Renata Sorrah .... Vitória dos Anjos
Giovana Barbosa .... Firmina
Ricardo Blat .... José
Guilherme Piva .... Alvaro
Marcelo Valle .... Commissioner
Floriano Peixoto .... Gregório
Gero Camilo .... Agapito
Marcelo Gomes .... Screenwriter
Sérgio Machado .... Screenwriter
Karim Ainouz .... Screenwriter
Karim Ainouz .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Madame Satã official site
Madame Satã production notes (.pdf)
Madame Satã QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2003: Won: ADF Cinematography Award - Special Mention (Walter Carvalho); Nominated: Best Film (Karim Ainouz)
Cartagena Film Festival 2004: Nominated: Golden India Catalina: Best Film (Karim Ainouz)
Chicago International Film Festival 2004: Won: Gold Hugo: Best Film (Karim Ainouz)
Cinema Brazil Grand Prize 2003: Won: Best Actor (Lázaro Ramos), Best Actress (Marcelia Cartaxo), Best Art Direction (Marcos Pedroso), Best Costume Design (Rita Murtinho), Best Make-Up (Sonia Penna); Nominated: Cinema Brazil Grand Prize: Best Picture
GLAAD Media Awards 2004: Nominated: Outstanding Film - Limited Release
Glitter Awards 2004: Won: Best Feature - Foreign Film Festival
Havana Film Festival 2002: Won: Best Art Direction (Marcos Pedroso), Special Jury Prize: Best First Work (Karim Ainouz)
Huelva Latin American Film Festival 2002: Won: Golden Colon: Karim Ainouz, Silver Colon: Best Actor (Lázaro Ramos), Best Cinematography (Walter Carvalho)
Istanbul International Film Festival 2003: Nominated: Golden Tulip (Karim Ainouz)
Mons International Festival of Love Films 2003: Won: Best Actor (Lázaro Ramos), Kodak Award (Karim Ainouz)
São Paulo Association of Art Critics Awards 2003: Won: APCA Trophy: Best Actor (Lázaro Ramos), Best Director (Karim Ainouz)
São Paulo International Film Festival 2002: Won: Special Jury Award (Lázaro Ramos)
Toronto Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival 2003: Won: Audience Award: Best Feature Film or Video (Karim Ainouz)

NB: Portuguese language dialogue with English language subtitles
Studios and distributors: