O Saci (1951 film)

O Saci is a 1951 Brazilian childrenfamily fantasy film, directed by Rodolfo Nanni, written by Nanni with a story by Arthur Neves, and based on the novel of same name written by Monteiro Lobato. Noted for being the first family film to be ever made in Brazil, it is also the first theatrical Stio do Picapau Amarelo adaptation. Introducing young actress Olga Maria as Emlia and Paulo Matozinho as the title character Saci, it adapts the novel in which Pedrinho Lvio Nanni demonstrates interest in capturing the supernatural, onelegged mulatto boy figure, the Saci, inhabiting the nearby virgin forest. Curiously, in 1954 the film won the Saci Award, that rewarded the best films of the decade.

Rodolfo Nanni wrote, produced and directed the film the very first of the childrenfamily genre in Brazil at the age of 28, after returning from a cinemastudying season in Paris. His niece Lvio Nanni portrays Pedrinho, following some casting auditions. Extras credited as Meninos de Ribeiro Bonito Boys from Ribeiro Bonito portray Sacis younger brothers. Released only four years after the death of author Monteiro Lobato, O Saci was a commercial success and helped to make Lobatos work popular for both children and adults, and especially among illiterate people. The film is still well remembered and had a second premiere at its 60th anniversary, at the Amazonas Film Festival.

Source: Wikipedia