I'm of the opinion that they were. For everyone who says "OMG What? We don't do that in Brazil," keep in mind that this is in 1910 (also, a work of fiction). Back when 20 year olds bent to their father's will like oxen. How many of you would take lashings and orders to kill at 20?
The way Salustiano treats her is far beyond "protective father figure". He doesn't get protective when he sees her sitting with Tonio, he gets jealous. This is his woman. He becomes restless when he notices she's not in bed with him.
Clara is a beautiful woman, and he's not related to her by blood. While she may have a free spirit, she probably doesn't have anything else. She's half of the two-person circus, and unless she wants to settle down as some farmer's wife, she doesn't have any option but to keep going. If he treated her badly, she would probably leave, but this is her life, and for a woman of her position, bedding with a drunkard isn't the worst she could do.
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teacozygran-1
17 years ago
yeah, that's what I was thinking too.
The way he was really jealous made me think, "hmm, there's something on going between him and Clara if he's getting upset because she's sitting and talking to Tonio."
I figure it doesn't matter what culture the person is from or the times they are living in - I think it can happen in any culture, no matter what kind of religious views and so on a person believes. A person can say, "I'm Catholic or Hindu" but then they go off and do something "against" their culture, religious views, etc.
Anyhow, I'm impressed with the amount of postings here.
thanks!
=)
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17 years ago
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konam
14 years ago
Hi. I`m from the northeast of Brazil.
I think that no one can tell for sure what was the relationship between the two, as the director leaves that opened for everybody`s thoughts.
Now, about this godfather/sex discussion, it is quite the contrary in ANY part of Brazil. If someone is pointed the godfather of a boy or a girl, that means that somebody is almost like a "second father".
Of course that the situation in this movie was quite unique. Thery were travelling mates, her father was not around anymore and she was over 18.. So, who knows? If I`d had to guess, I`d probably say they werent sleeping together, the circus guy seemed quite a decent man.
- He moves his lips when he reads. What does that tell you about him?
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spookyrat1
10 years ago
Without Clara, Salustiano has no livelihood and will have difficulty surviving alone.
That's the way I saw it too. He wasn't so much jealous as much as stressed to think of what might happen to the circus.
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