Private Project

THE HEAD OF GUMERCINDO SARAIVA

The story of THE HEAD OF GUMERCINDO SARAIVA is fiction based on true events, which happened at the end of the Federalist Revolution in 1983, in the south of Brazil. When Gumercindo Saraiva was killed in an ambush and buried at graveyard at some roadside, the legalists discovered it, unburied the body, and cut its head off so it would be taken to the Governor as a war trophy. Major Ramiro de Oliveira and two men were chosen for the unusual task.
The film tells the saga of the Capitan Franciso Saraiva, son of Gumercindo, and his team of five riders in the attempt to recover his father’s head.
The moments of approximation and distancing between the pursued and the pursuers, the confrontation and the conflicts, the duels that happened on both sides until the final encounter, when there are only Ramiro and Francisco left standing; all these events are thoroughly narrated in the film.
The lessons learned in the journey blossom at end and both men, due to everything they went through, decide for an honorable outcome for them both.

  • Tabajara Ruas
    Director
  • Tabajara Ruas
    Writer
  • Ligia Walper
    Producer
  • Tabajara Ruas
    Producer
  • Murilo Rosa
    Key Cast
    "Major Ramiro"
  • Leonardo Machado
    Key Cast
    "Capitão Francisco Saraiva"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    A Cabeça de Gumercindo Saraiva
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Adventure, Drama, Western
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 33 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    1,000,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Brazil
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Distribution Information
  • Elo Company
    Country: Brazil
Director Biography - Tabajara Ruas

Tabajara Ruas is a brasilian writer and film maker. He works with movies since 1978, as first assistant of the director and screenwriter. Now, he has written12 feature film scripts.

Feature films as diretor and awards:

NETTO LOSES HIS SOUL (NETTO PERDE SUA ALMA)  – 2001 - Awards: winner of best production of the RGE/Government of RS; 4 kikitos at the Festival of Gramado; 3 passsistas and the award Gilberto Freyre at the Festival of Recife; 2 Candangos at the Festival of Brasilia; Best photography at the Huelva in Spain; Newcomer Director and best music at Trieste in Italy. In total, the feature was selected in 28 festivals in 16 different countries.
 
BRIZOLA IN TIMES OF FIGHT (BRIZOLA TEMPOS DE LUTA) – 2007 - Awards: Best Film Editing at the Festival of Recife. Selected in the Festival of Atlanticdoc in Uruguay.
 
NETTO AND THE HORSE TAMER (NETTO E O DOMADOR DE CAVALOS) – 2008 - Awards: Special award from the jury at the International Festival of Period Movies, Lapa, selected at the Festival of Gramado and Cuiaba.
 
THE LORDS OF THE WAR (OS SENHORES DA GUERRA) – 2016 – Awards: Supporting Actress and special from the Jury at the Festival of Gramado.
Selected in the first festival of the Three Frontiers in Argentina.
 
THE HEAD OF GUMERCINDO SARAIVA (A CABEÇA DE GUMERCINDO SARAIVA) – 2018

Add Director Biography