Três Marias, As, (The Three Marias) poster & wallpaper
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Marieta Severo, Julia Lemmertz, Maria Luiza Mendonca, Luiza Mariani, Carlos Vereza ... see more see more... , Enrique Díaz , Tuca Andrada , Wagner Moura , Lázaro Ramos , Cassiano Carneiro , Taveira Junior , Fabio Limma , Maria Luisa Mendonca

Brazilian filmmaker Aluizio Abranches, who garnered international attention with his debut feature Um Copo de Colera, directed this audacious and idiosyncratic crime thriller. When she was a young wom... read more read more...an, Filomena Capadocio (Marieta Severo) had pledged to marry Firmino Santos Guerra (Carlos Vereza), but she opted to call off the engagement and instead wed Borges Capadscio, one of his greatest enemies. An angry Santos Guerra swore to someday take vengeance against Filomena, but waited thirty years to make good on his promise, when arranged for the cold-blooded murder of Filomena's husband and two sons. Distraught, Filomena brings together her three daughters -- Maria Pia (Luiza Mariani, Maria Rosa (Maria Luisa Mendonca) and Maria Francesca (Julia Lemmertz) - and tells them of her plan to avenge these deaths of her men. Each of the sisters is given the name of a different hired killer, and each is to arrange for the death of one of the men responsible for the slayings. Maria Pia has to free Jesuino Cruz (Wagner Moura) from jail so he can perform the hit, Maria Rosa must convince a usually honest cop (Tuca Andrada) to turn to the wrong side of the law, and Maria Francesca has the assignment of tracking down the crazed Ze des Cobras (Enrique Diaz), who likes to feast on snakes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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44% liked it

81 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

20 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Aluisio Abranches

Release Date: August 2, 2002

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DVD Release Date: April 26, 2005

Stats: 8 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (8)

  • gator681
    March 3, 2006
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In the Brazilian film, "The Three Marias", the husband and two sons of Filomena(Marieta Severo) have just been brutally murdered. She gathers her three grown daughters, Maria Francisca(Julia Lemmertz), Maria Rosa(Maria Luisa Mendonca) and Maria Pia(Luiza Mar... read moreiani), and instructs them to employ three hitmen to kill the murderers and bring their heads to her.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"The Three Marias" is an odd, beguiling and violent revenge flick with an interesting structure. The film uses religious symbolism to comment on misogyny in the Church, thus lending a definite feminist edge to the whole project, especially with the strong female characters.[/font]

View All Três Marias, As, (The Three Marias) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck
June 5, 2003
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

A luridly baroque tale of violent revenge, this Brazilian-Italian entry relies heavily on atmospheric visuals to compensate for its lack of depth in both plotting and characterizations.

Elizabeth Weitzman
June 4, 2003
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

Abranches intends for a religious parable by way of Greek tragedy, but the film drowns in a morass of portentous signs and poetic symbols. Full Review

Bob Campbell
June 3, 2003
Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger

At times, the filmmaker seems unsure of his mission. He should have had Filomena for his producer. Full Review

Stephen Holden
May 29, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Its emotional climate is too extreme to invite identification, and its characters are too single-minded in their revenge to evoke pity, terror or even much interest. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
May 29, 2003
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

The intent was apparently a Sergio Leone-ish black comedy, but the leaden pacing, somnambulant performances and incessant symbolism in nearly every shot will soon have you thinking that The Three Mari...

Gene Seymour
May 29, 2003
Gene Seymour, Newsday

Those who long for the termite glory of 1950s B westerns might find something to like about this tightly wound, borderline absurd oddity. Full Review

Leslie Camhi
May 27, 2003
Leslie Camhi, Village Voice

[Abranches is] so focused on creating a strikingly mannerist visual style that he forgets to flesh out his plot and characters. Full Review

Prairie Miller
May 15, 2007
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio

The good news is that for a change the females, however malevolent, get to use their brains rather than their bodies as problem solving implements. Full Review

Maria Garcia
May 31, 2003
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International

A solid 'B' movie with no meaningful dialogue, a creaky plotline and wildly evocative characters, but its crude charm is unmistakable. Full Review

Sean O'Connell
May 30, 2003
Sean O'Connell, Filmcritic.com

Marias is all about build-up, with very little payoff. Full Review

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