A Dog's Will (2000) Review: Tricksters of the Sertão

Is A Dog’s Will worth watching?

Yes. A Dog’s Will is a joyous, sharp-tongued Brazilian comedy whose two scheming heroes have become national favourites, and it deserves a far wider audience outside Brazil. Its humour mixes slapstick, satire and folk storytelling, taking aim at greed, hypocrisy and religious pomp while keeping real affection for the poor people who survive on their wits. The reservation is its broad, stage-bred style and episodic structure, which can feel more like a string of sketches than a single film, and some verbal comedy inevitably loses sparkle in subtitles.

What is A Dog’s Will about?

In a small town in the dry backlands of northeastern Brazil, two poor friends get by however they can. João Grilo (Matheus Nachtergaele) is small, fast-talking and endlessly inventive, a con artist who treats every problem as a chance to outwit someone richer. His companion Chicó (Selton Mello) is a timid, lovable liar who tells wildly exaggerated stories and never quite knows how he got into trouble.

When the pampered dog belonging to their employer’s wife dies and she insists it be given a proper church burial, João Grilo hatches a scheme that drags the local priest (Rogério Cardoso), a bishop and half the town into a comedy of greed and hypocrisy. More schemes, a romance for Chicó and increasingly dangerous complications follow, and the story later grows more fantastical in ways best discovered on screen.

A Dog’s Will, known in Brazil as O Auto da Compadecida, is adapted from Ariano Suassuna’s celebrated play and directed by Guel Arraes. It is a Brazilian film in Portuguese, running 104 minutes.

Nachtergaele and Mello make a classic double act

The film rests on its central pair, and they are superb. Matheus Nachtergaele plays João Grilo with wiry energy and a sly grin, making him both a rascal and an underdog worth rooting for. His rapid-fire improvisations, spinning one lie into another, drive the comedy forward.

Selton Mello is his perfect foil. Chicó’s fearful expressions and absurd tall tales, often ending in a shrug that he doesn’t know, only that it happened that way, give the film its sweetest humour. The friendship between the two feels genuine, and it is the reason audiences keep returning to them. The supporting cast of priests, bosses, bandits and villagers is full of vivid comic turns.

A folk tale with a satirical bite

Suassuna’s play draws on popular theatre, medieval morality stories and the poetry of Brazil’s northeast, and the film keeps that spirit. It pokes fun at the church’s hunger for money, at landowners’ arrogance and at the everyday corruption of small-town power, while showing warmth toward those at the bottom. The comedy is irreverent but never cruel toward the poor.

Visually, the film favours bright colours, sunbaked landscapes and theatrical staging, and the rhythm is brisk. It feels like a fable told aloud, with characters addressing big moral questions in the language of jokes and tricks.

Where the TV roots show

The film’s episodic shape reflects its origins as a television production, and at times it feels like a series of set pieces joined together. The performances are deliberately broad, which suits the material but may seem exaggerated to viewers used to more naturalistic comedy. Its later, more allegorical turn is a highlight for many but may surprise those expecting a straightforward farce.

Who should watch A Dog’s Will?

It is a strong choice for anyone curious about Brazilian culture and comedy, fans of trickster tales and viewers who enjoy satire with a warm heart. At 104 minutes, it is easy to fit into an evening. There is some violence and religious humour that a few viewers may find irreverent, but it is broadly family-friendly for older children and teenagers.

If you like it, try these next:

• The Second Mother, a more realistic Brazilian comedy-drama that also examines class and power with wit.
• The General, a silent classic about a resourceful underdog outsmarting far more powerful foes.

The verdict

A Dog’s Will is a lively, funny and surprisingly moving folk comedy that has earned its place in Brazilian popular culture. Its broad style and episodic structure show its roots, but Nachtergaele and Mello’s irresistible partnership and Suassuna’s sharp satire make it a delight.

Rating: 4.5/5