Jocotero (2021 film)

Not to be confused with Jocotero (2002 film) or Jocotero massacre.

Jocotero
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alfonso Morelli
Screenplay by	Alfonso Morelli
Produced by	Alfonso Morelli Lucas Leite Osvaldo Resende
Starring	Javier Pires Luzia Passos Victorino Gusmão Denis Gide Sylvia Gouin
Cinematography	Ludovica Sabetta
Edited by	Grégory Pierlot
Music by	Hugo Aliker
Production companies	RS Media AR44 Films
Distributed by	Sagrado Pictures
Release dates	24 October, 2021 (Montecara) 3 November, 2021 (Worldwide)
Running time	139 minutes
Country	Ardesia
Languages	Luzelese Vespasian
Budget	€15 milliion
Box office	€21 million

Jocotero is a black-and-white drama film directed and produced by Alfonso Morelli. Set in the early Ardesian Estado Novo, it follows the life of a Vespasian-Ardesian family in Rémont between 1961-1962. The movie stars primarily Javier Pires, Luzia Passos, Sylvia Gouin, Victorino Gusmão and Denis Gide. The project was announced in October 2020 with Javier Pires, Luzia Passos, and Sylvia Gouin casted as leads in December 2020.

The movie premiered at the 82nd Montecara Film Festival on 24 October, 2021, beginning theatrical release worldwide by 3 November 2021. The film was praised for the lead acting performances and filmmaking done by Morelli.

Plot

The film begins with a reel of the 1961 coup and oppositions demonstrated in Rémont largely by students. It cuts to an introduction of the Giordano’s, a Vespasian-Ardesian family that runs a small business focused on carpets in the Jocotero neighborhood of Rémont. Niccolo Giordano, 45, is the husband of his wife, Rosa, and the father of Regina, Mina, and Rufo. Few distinctive neighbors largely capturing the bilingual switches of the family are also introduced. Niccolo works as manager and seller, while Rosa works as a carpet weaver which is routinely played out.

When announced of another child from Rosa, Niccolo is ecstatic of the news though receives mixed feelings from their kids, primarily from Mina who’s at the cusp of leaving for the city’s university. The family spends their dinner at a nearby Vespasian restaurant ‘Gastone’s’ in celebration of the pregnancy and Mina’s acceptance into Rémont University. This is abruptly stopped when a student demonstration held at an intersection breaks into a brawl between them and the paramilitary group ‘Os Galos’ which had been aided by the Estado Novo government.

A week later Mina is driven by Niccolo to the university for registration, enabling a brief talk over the concurrent events unfolding. Niccolo tells Mina not to be swept into the concurrent wave of opposition, and simply enjoy her youth in where she disagrees. Before an argument unfolds they arrive to tour the campus, where they see stands and masses of students passing flyer. Mina slowly strays away to collect one, where she meets one of the distributors ‘Rafael’. Niccolo quickly attempts to break the conversation upon his discovery and worry for Mina’s interest in joining the popular demonstrations grow. Mina visibily hides the pamphlet away. They later return home with Niccolo talking to Rosa stressing over the state of the country, and hoping for her to reach out to Mina to prevent her from delving too deep into the movements. Rufo would eavesdrop on the conversation and break it to Mina in the same night, further causing family distrust.

Weeks later, Niccolo’s worry is further evident where he aggressively scouts the flyer before being found by Mina. A foul argument ensues as he angrily questions her motives, accusing her of doing past actions out of spite and in an attempt to dissociate from the family. Mina returns an accusation with him doing this to maintain the remaining grasp of influence he has on her and her practices out of fear. Rosa, now in her first trimester would attempt to defuse the fight before vomiting, diverting attention back to her pregnancy. By mid-1962 the 1962 Summer Invictus Games would begin, with Mina finally out of the household and Rufo and Regina occupying more space in working at the shop. Upon one of the routine visits to Mina on the campus, Niccolo and Rosa come across her with Rafael. There’d be many slight implications of a possible relationship, which Niccolo visibly dreads and Rosa attempts in supporting.

As they drive back home Rosa assures Niccolo of the absence of any issue, the conversation ends quickly with the growing number of students rallying and listening to the recited speeches. One of the previously recognized neighborhood residents are recognized as they slowly drive past, leading to Niccolo’s questioning of the scope of events. A military presence in the area arrives at the surprise of the family the next day, with a helicopter flying over them in view of a larger demonstration bigger than last night. Upon Rosa’s second trimester they shop for cribs while passing by members of Os Galos with weapons. They hurry into the store to resume shopping with Niccolo to continue his fears of the violence incoming, while also questioning if Mina had listened.

Prompting further concern Niccolo travels to the university before running into Mina and Rafael close to sleeping with each other, bringing disturbance and a fight spilling outside of the campus. Rafael receives injuries upon his face while Niccolo flees with Mina. Mina espouses her anger before being cut off with an emotional plea by Niccolo to avoid any trouble and questions if she was going to sleep with Rafael, which she refuses to answer, all while insulting and leaving causing him to breakdown in his car.

Niccolo and the rest of the family would be largely estranged by Mina shortly after. Into the later periods of the Invictus Games near Jocotero, a planned demonstration of over 13,000 protestors ascend to the streets with agitators primarily belonging to Os Galos quickly battling. Niccolo frantically calls Mina out of the turnout of people but to no answer. Gunshots are heard and hoards of people flee the area and apparent deaths are seen as Niccolo attempts to scout the streets in desperation within one shot. Niccolo walks past a frantic Rafael before seeing Mina’s body that had been shot among others, he would cradle her whilst breaking down before an abrupt cut to black.

Weeks after the event Rosa is in the hospital giving birth to another child where Niccolo imitatively cradles him. The family spends their time at the local beach with the baby now named Matheus. Niccolo would proclaim his love to his children as they sit down and hold them close, shortly within the day after he would set up carpets back to routine fashion. The end focuses on a wide shot of Niccolo sitting within the store.

Cast

Pires respectively played as Niccolò Giordano

• Javier Pires as Niccolo Giordano
• Luzia Passos as Rosa Giordano
• Sylvia Gouin as Mina Giordano
• Victorino Gusmão as Rufo Giordano
• Denis Gide as Regina Giordano
• Isac Macedo as Rafael
• Rúben Almeida as Tiago
• Sebastião Pimentel as João
• Teresa Guerra as Monica

Production

One of the primary locations shot in the Jocotero neighborhood