Acting
Jul 24, 1923
Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
Leonardo Villar
Acting
Biography
Leonardo Villar (born as Leonardo Motta in Piracicaba, São Paulo, on July 25, 1923 - São Paulo, July 3, 2020) was a Brazilian actor. He became internationally known for his performance as Zé do Burro in Anselmo Duarte's O Pagador de Promessas, the only Brazilian film so far awarded with a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He started his career at the theater, but later also started acting in film and television. Villar debuted at the theater on the 1950 play Os Pássaros. His first film role only came in 1962 as Zé do Burro in Anselmo Duarte's O Pagador de Promessas. He received international exposure for the role after the film won the Palme d'Or and became the first Brazilian and South American feature nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 1965 he debuted on television in the TV Tupi telenovela A Cor de Sua Pele, which tells the story of an interracial relationship. In 1972, he moved to Rede Globo, where he starred in successful shows such as Escalada and Estúpido Cupido. In 2001, after almost 20 years without acting in the theater, he starred in the play A Moratória. In 2008, after eight years without acting in a film, he starred in the critically acclaimed Chega de Saudade. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Feature Films (21)
"Portraits and excerpts from Brazilian films from all times. Actors, directors and images that affirm cinema."
Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional
An evening in an old time dance hall in Sao Paulo introduces us to local characters who reminisce about the past, wonder about the future, have fun, flirt, fight and, of course, dance. Its earthy humour and eternal themes of ageing, loneliness and desire is an antidote to grumpy old men and women everywhere.
The Ballroom
Zé is a very poor man whose most prized possession is his donkey. When his donkey falls terminally ill, Zé makes a promise to Saint Bárbara: If his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross - like Jesus - all the way from his city to Saint Bárbara's church, in the state capital. Upon the recovery of his donkey, Zé leaves on his journey. He makes it to the church, but the priest refuses to accept the cross once he discovers the context of Zé's promise.
The Given Word
A tribute to the actor Leonardo Villar who, in his debut on the big screen, immortalized one of the most memorable characters in Brazilian cinema, Zé do Burro from the classic O Pagador de Promessas.
Leonardo Villar - Um Homem Só
Augusto Matraga is a violent agressive farmer who, after being betrayed by his wife and trapped by several enemies, is beaten up and left for dead, being rescued by a couple of humble small farmers who nurse him for a long time until he is well again. Influenced by the couple, Matraga starts a long penitent life while waiting for his hour and chance to payback, starting a fight between his violent nature, his hidden desire of vengeance and the mysticism and goodness which is also part of him.
The Hour and Turn of Augusto Matraga
Singer Laura Monteiro (Montiel) is murdered by her old protector João Fernandes de Oliveira (Giachetti), who has found out her love affair with Assis (Carlos Alberto). Favela-girl Belén (also Montiel) is the look-alike who takes her place, unaware she is being used by a gang that smuggles precious stones sewn in Carnival costumes. Written by fabreu
Samba
Originally produced for German TV, Improvised and Purposeful is a firsthand look at the "Cinema Novo" movement (otherwise known as the 'Brazilian New Wave'). Director Joaquim Pedro de Andrade focuses on six Cinema Novo filmmakers working in Rio in 1967.
Improvised and Purposeful: Cinema Novo
Brazil in the early 70s. Miguel, Eloi, Osvaldo and Paolo take part in armed attacks against the military dictatorship. They pay a heavy price with torture and arrest. Today the four friends still see each other. Only Miguel is politically active. On a photograph from a political meeting in Sao Paolo he recognises the policeman who tortured them 25 years ago and who was responsible for the death of Miguel's girlfriend. The policeman has been officially dead for a few years. On one of their fishing trips together, Miguel tells his friends of his discovery. When they hunt down and confront their nemesis they come into conflict with both themselves and each other.
Friendly Fire
The story of how a quarrel between families set poor farmer Virgulino Ferreira da Silva on the path to become Lampião, the greatest leader of the cangaceiros - bandits who roamed the Northeast of Brazil until the late 1930s.
Lampião, King of the Badlands
A museum worker - the watchman - motivated by the homonymous painting by Giorgio De Chirico, is introduced, through everyday life, into the metaphysical universe of the Italian painter.
Enigma de um Dia
In search of a better life, Luzia leaves the Northeast of Brazil and goes to Rio de Janeiro, looking for her fiance who went first to pave their way. Alone in the Marvelous City, she is forced to accept the friendship and protection of Calunga and, later, the company of Inácio.
The Big City
A pastor and a priest compete for the religious leadership of the population of a small town. When the pastor tries to prevent his sister's involvement with the sacristan, he accidentally starts the rumor that the church houses a miraculous statue of St. Francis.
O Santo Milagroso
Television & Series (30)
Ana and Zeca have a happy marriage, but they can't have children. To fulfill their dream, the couple hires the young Clara as a surrogate mother, which leads them into a legal dispute.
Barriga de Aluguel
The hypochondriac lawyer Arthur, the model Maria, the religious Elizabeth, the hardworking Guinevere, and the womanizing personal trainer Lancelotti reunite after 25 years in the fictional town of Deus me Livre, in the interior of São Paulo. Determined to correct past mistakes and start their lives anew, they end up rekindling old flames. This is the main plot of Pé na Jaca, which, starting with the reunion of the five childhood friends, shows a frantic hunt for fortune, seasoned with hilarious romantic entanglements.
Pé na Jaca
The story is set in the fictional city of Albuquerque, in the interior of São Paulo, in the early 1960s – a time marked by changing behaviors in much of the world. There, young people enjoy the sounds of rock and twist on the dance floors, follow the fashion of jeans and leather jackets, and show off on Lambrettas and motorcycles through the city streets. In this context, Maria Tereza, a student teacher, dreams of living in the capital and being elected Miss Brazil, but clashes with her boyfriend, João. An idealistic young man who intends to pursue a career in journalism, he is consumed by jealousy of his beloved.
