The lively João Grilo and the sly Chicó are poor guys living in the hinterland who cheat a bunch of people in a small town in Northeastern Brazil. When they die, they have to be judged by Christ, the Devil and the Virgin Mary before they are admitted to paradise.
Ratings
Curator score: 9.1/10
IMDb: 8.6/10
Letterboxd: 4.21/5
TMDB: 8.4/10
Director
Guel Arraes
Production
Lereby Produções, Globo Filmes, Estúdios Globo
Cast
Matheus Nachtergaele, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro, Rogério Cardoso, Denise Fraga, Diogo Vilela, Luís Melo, Virginia Cavendish, Bruno Garcia, Enrique Díaz, Maurício Gonçalves, Aramis Trindade, Marco Nanini, Paulo Goulart, Lima Duarte
Curator Review
Verdict
A wildly funny, fast-moving Brazilian folk comedy that blends slapstick, satire, and religious fantasy into something singular and deeply beloved. Its dialogue-driven humor and cultural specificity may not fully translate for everyone, but the energy, invention, and emotional payoff are undeniable.
Best for
Fans of offbeat comedies with a mythic or theatrical edge
Viewers who enjoy social satire mixed with fantasy
People open to subtitled films and culturally specific humor
Audiences who like scrappy underdog stories with big personality
Skip if
You need jokes to land instantly across cultures
You dislike broad farce or manic pacing
You want a polished, restrained, realism-first drama
Religious satire or afterlife storytelling puts you off
Overview
A Dog's Will is one of those rare comedies that feels both rowdy and sacred. It starts as a scam-filled romp through the Brazilian backlands, then expands into a playful moral fable where Christ, the Devil, and the Virgin Mary weigh the lives of two small-time tricksters. The result is a film that can be absurd one moment and unexpectedly moving the next.
Worth noting
What makes it endure is the confidence of its storytelling. The pace is feverish, the characters are vivid, and the movie keeps finding new ways to turn folk humor into something almost operatic. Even when the jokes are rooted in local language and custom, the film's rhythm and comic invention are infectious.
Bottom line
It is especially rewarding if you like comedies that feel handmade, culturally specific, and larger than their budget. Beneath the chaos, there is a real tenderness toward the poor, the hustlers, and the absurd rituals of survival. That mix of irreverence and heart is what makes it feel like a classic.
Top Letterboxd reviews
gunshotglitter (4.5★) · 4343 likes
o nome em inglês do filme é o testamento da cachorra.
Vitor Torga · 1660 likes
Ontem fiquei sabendo que vários brasileiros estão entrando na plataforma Letterboxd para avaliar o filme O Auto da Compadecida em 5 estrelas no intuito de irritar os usuários norte-americanos, que aparentemente não gostam do filme e não entendem sua genialidade. Não tenho nada contra zoação de internet, ainda mais com estadunidense com síndrome de superioridade, mas expressei que acho meio bobo tratar um filme cheio de atores sudestinos forçando sotaque e reforçando o imaginário do nordeste como um ambiente deserto,… more Ontem fiquei sabendo que vários brasileiros estão entrando na plataforma Letterboxd para avaliar o filme O Auto da Compadecida em 5 estrelas no intuito de irritar os usuários norte-americanos, que aparentemente não gostam do filme e não entendem sua genialidade. Não tenho nada contra zoação de internet, ainda mais com estadunidense com síndrome de superioridade, mas expressei que acho meio bobo tratar um filme cheio de atores sudestinos forçando sotaque e reforçando o imaginário do nordeste como um ambiente deserto,… more
beladona (5★) · 1476 likes
chicó ressuscitando top 10 maiores atos do cinema
Álvaro S. M. (5★) · 886 likes
This movie is a total brazilian masterpiece. While not having a huge budget and suffering from a few technical problems, these minor issues don't jeopardize the greatness of the piece as a whole.
It is an adaptation of a theatrical play by great and immortal brazilian writer Ariano Suassuna.
While telling the stories and sometimes unbelievable adventures of two poor guys in the brazilian northern countryside, it also shows the hard reality they have to cope with, and the role… more
amanda (5★) · 868 likes
— Fui logo dizendo "I love you" e ela se derreteu todinha...
— I love you?
— É. Quer dizer morena em francês.
1979 · Comedy · 1h 34m · R · Curator 8.2/10 (811.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
A benchmark for irreverent religious satire that balances absurdity with sharp social observation.
1926 · Action, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 19m · NR · Curator 9.1/10 (214.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection
A classic of physical comedy and escalating misadventure for viewers who enjoy precision-built slapstick.