O Bravo Guerreiro (1969)

Miguel Horta (Paulo César Pereio), a young deputy from the Radical Party, goes to meet Virgílio (Cesar Ladeira), the head of the governing National Party, accompanied by Senator Augusto (Mário Lago), the party’s power behind the scenes. Because they are late, they find the government leader in his private sauna, where they discuss Miguel’s transfer. Despite some disagreements, Miguel manages to assert himself with Augusto’s help, pointing out that they have one thing in common: the public good. He then breaks with the Radicals at a meeting where he is warned about the dangers of betrayal. When he gets home, his wife, Clara Horta (Maria Lúcia Dahl), tells him he has been looked for repeatedly and asks what happened. Miguel keeps Clara out of the matter, and she complains that she feels like an intruder in his life. They are supposed to go out after dinner, but his campaign workers call demanding explanations, and he cancels their plans. At his home, the union leaders warn him against the old foxes in the “National” Party, but Miguel argues that they need to find new paths, insisting that he will eventually get his bill passed. In the Chamber of Deputies, while a “Radical” named Ferreira (Antônio Victor) delivers a patriotic speech, Miguel negotiates with Augusto to tie the passage of his bill to that of a rent-control bill he dislikes. In Miguel’s absence, the “National” leadership discusses, in a restaurant, accusations made by their great rival, Conrado Frota (Ítalo Rossi), who wants to become Governor of the Province. Hoping to buy time, they consider a negotiation that Miguel could carry out, given his limited commitment to the National Party. During a visit by American Senator O'Finney (David Drew Zingg) to a large shipyard, the Governor (Angelito Mello) tells Augusto that he is under pressure and that Miguel’s bill needs to be “emptied out.” Meanwhile, Miguel negotiates with Conrado, while Senator O'Finney listens to opinions about the country’s situation. In the end, Conrado makes Miguel understand that the bill’s substance will be changed, but the young deputy refuses to believe it. As they stroll through the gardens of his home, Augusto shows Miguel a “new” bill. Miguel sees that it is completely at odds with the original and refuses to move it forward. Augusto tries to explain the Governor’s obligations, but Miguel argues that he has obligations too, and finally breaks with the “Nationals.” Miguel goes looking for Conrado and finds him in a nightclub. He offers his support, but Conrado refuses, revealing that he needs no one and that, because of his inconsistency, Miguel has become dead weight. Having had a lot to drink, Miguel courts Linda (Isabella), Conrado’s wife, and ends up spending the night with her. The next morning, as Miguel tries to reconcile with Clara after her accusations, a campaign worker visits and tells him that some union stooges are trying to overthrow the union leadership, claiming that his bill is meant to provoke a conflict with the factory owners. Despite Clara’s pleas, Miguel goes to the union, where the workers are gathered for a general assembly. At the assembly, after union president Honório (Joseph Guerreiro) manages to overcome the situation created by accusations from a union stooge (Hugo Carvana), Miguel insists on speaking. He begins a speech recounting his whole journey and ends by saying that he is not the right person to defend the union members, who should speak directly to their adversaries. As uproar reigns in the hall, Miguel realizes how out of place and alien he is in that world, and flees. When he returns to his apartment, Miguel discovers that Clara has left him. He walks through the empty apartment, looks out at the sea from his terrace, makes up his mind, and goes to the desk, where he takes a revolver and presses the barrel to the roof of his mouth. The image of Miguel, the revolver barrel in his mouth, looking at the audience, fades until it is completely black.