Review of Burn! (1969) by S C — 17 May 2009

This is a serious and mature piece of work. After watching this its difficult to take most of Hollywood's output in any way but as puerile and infantile. I would say that none of the movie output of the last 10 years even comes close to this level of maturity.

* it covers the period 1844-1855 after the British abolished their slave trade but slaves were still kept in the Portugese colonies.

* Marlon Brando plays the wily British agent, Walker, sent to exploit anti-Portugese feelings in the Antilles islands (and rightly so in that the Portugese were brutal in their treatment of slaves).

* He helps a black slave Joses Delores to rise from a porter to leading the rebellion, thus removing Portugese control. And against his nature he grows to admire and even like the slave rebel.

* 10 years later Walker returns as the British start their "shock and awe" against Deolores.

The film is shot in a ultra-realist style - I was astonished how the whole look and feel was true for the 19th century, and I dont mean a nice, clean, costume drama. The meaning of being a SLAVE comes across brutally. Naked babies playing in dusty fields, mothers pounding maize, men chained and whipped. The garden of beautiful slave whores kept for the pleasure of the white businessmen who joke about how much more efficient the whores are compared to their wives.

For Ponteverco The meaning of "forked tongue" and how directors of businesses (and their shareholders) who spoke of civilisation whilst at the same time promoting abuse, brutality and inhumane acts against black workers stands as a critical definition of western civilisation.

* The 2 leading characters Walker and Dolores play their parts well - I think Brando is good as an english toff but he plays it like Olivier may have done, by not using his usual method style which is a shame.

The lasting memory is of Delores spitting in Walkers face, and us knowing that Walker knows why his friend has spit on him, knowing that in order to bring civilisation Walker has to betray his friend, knowing that in his place Walker would have done exactly the same thing; that is say no to civilisation, say no to the stock markets, say no to capitalist abuse of workers, say no to it all.

Surely a great critical achievement, this movie is enlightening, and shows that film can rise above just mere entertainment.

Burn!