How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman (1971)

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"From Colligny
In Antarctic France.

Lates news from
Admiral Villegagnon.

The country is a
barren desert

There are no houses nor
any other amenities.

On the contrary.

The natives are
barbarous savages,

different from us,
without any religion,

or any knowledge or
honesty or virtue,

or what is right
and unjust.

They are beasts
with human faces.

To boot, our neighbors
are Portuguese.

Unable to keep the
country for themselves,

they hardly tolerate our
presence and hate us.

Therefore, I must show
firmness and courage

and I prepare my "family"
for permanent work.

God's goodness will assist
us in this enterprise.

We have set up camp

on an island two leagues
from the mainland

to discourage any
attempt to escape

and to allow our troops
to fulfill their task.

Wives will be admitted
only with their husbands.

All opportunities of sin
will thus be eliminated.

Even so, twenty-six
mercenaries,

tempted by their
carnal lust,

have conspired
to k*ll me.

I have avoided
any further danger

by arming five
of my servants.

We have arrested
and imprisoned

four of the
principal mutineers

The others, scared, have
hidden themselves.

On the following day,
I had one of them unchained

so that he could
plead his cause.

He broke loose and threw
himself into the sea

and was drowned."

Letter from Villegagnon
to Calvin,

dated 31st of March, 1557.

HOW TASTY WAS
MY LITTLE FRENCHMAN

Directed by
NELSON PEREIRA DOS SANTOS

"In Sâo Vicente lived the Portuguese,
enemies of the French."

A Frenchman!

It will be a nice
present for my uncle.

He hasn't tasted
a Frenchman yet.

Let's take him
to the Captain!

Your chief is
our friend.

The Frenchman is a
friend of our enemies.

You're christened.
You can't eat him.

My uncle is not
christened.

He is our sl*ve.

He will have to
fight at our side

until we get to
Sâo Vicente.

This way! Beware!

Go see the Frenchman!

Wake up, Frenchie!

He is mine!

He is mine!

I am French!

French!... French!

He is French.

Say something!

Put the lamprey into scalding
water, take its guts out...

Lay half a slice onto
a bowl, spice it with oil.

Speak more!

He is French!

I think he is Portuguese.
I will k*ll him.

He is French.

He is mine!

That rabbit sure
can run.

He is Portuguese.

He is French.

I am French!... French!

Speak!

Speak!

Let it rest for a while
and take it to the fire...

Then lay a little bit of
water, vinegar, and clove.

He is Portuguese.

He is mine!

You eat the
other one.

I want to show
him to the women.

"My Lord, if I must die
a barbarous death...

let it be at the hands
of someone who knows you."

There comes Cunhambebe!

Our meal has
walked to us.

Come and see what I
brought you to eat.

Beautiful sl*ve!

I want to die
with my beard.

He doesn't weep like
the other Portuguese.

You brought
good sl*ves.

When do we start
the w*r?

They are like tigers,
naturally cruel...

friends of w*r and
enemies of peace."

Our sorcerers prophesied

that we would capture
a strong Portuguese.

There he is!
He is my sl*ve.

At last I shall avenge
my brother's death.

If he were French,
he wouldn't k*ll Tupinambás.

The French have knives,

hatchets, and combs,

which they trade for
wood and pepper.

He has nothing
of the sort.

He is Portuguese, friend of
the Tupiniquins, our enemies.

He'll die on the


"To the European friend,
they deplore the bad luck

of their ancestors who have not
known such a virtuous people."

How good he is...

Our friend...

He comes from so far...

Just to see us...

How many dangers
has he faced

just to reach us!

Since our friend left,
we have suffered much.

Many of us have died at
the hands of our enemies.

How sad are our
dead today!

They will not see the
beautiful presents

which our friend
has brought us.

Among the dead,
Tapiruçu, my husband,

claims for vengeance
and suffers much.

Tapiruçu died by the
fire of the Portuguese.

The prophecy of our
sorcerers has come true

since Cunhambebe has brought
us a strong Portuguese

to avenge
Tapiruçu's death.

Damn Portuguese!

He says he is French.

He refuses to
sleep with me.

I am sad.

That's enough!

At last you have come!

Here I am! I brought
you many trunks.

I want to see.

Later! We have time.

I am angry.
I want to see now.

Let me see your
sl*ve first.

Bring the Portuguese!

He says he is French?

I'll tell you if
he is lying.

What did you bring
me this time?

How many trunks?

Many... with cloth...

combs, beads for your
women, knives...

But this time I want
much pepper and wood.

You mean you have
come from so far

just to get wood?

Where do you come from?

I was serving Villegagnon
in Rio de Janeiro.

Please, tell these
savages I am French.

I was forced to leave
the fortress.

I was caught with
some Portuguese.

Tell them I am French.

He is Portuguese all right.
Go and eat him!

You dog!

Swine!

m*rder*r!

Give it to me!

I have brought you
a present.

Filthy dog!

Traitor!

That's no way to
treat a Christian!

Let me explain.

They will eat me up!

Quiet! Those savages
aren't easy to cope with.

All right!
They will k*ll you,

but you have still
eight months to live.

Until you die, you'll
be very happy.

You may even escape.

Follow my advice.

That woman at your
side is your wife.

It won't be difficult
to be happy with her.

Meanwhile collect
peppers and wood for me.

When I come back
in a few months,

we'll make a deal.

I'll take you along.

I'll give you money
to start a new life.

"The French took with
them every year

thousands of quintals
of Brazil wood."

Where...

...did you find...

these beads?

Tapiruçu stole them
from the Portuguese.

How many?

Won't you go
look for wood?

The sun's up.

My husband Tapiruçu
might get sore.

Let him rest
in peace!

He can't see nothing.

Come! Let's go
look for wood!

No! Today I want
to stay... home.

Tell me about Mair...

...the great
"caraiba"...

... your ancestor.

The one who taught us
how to build a fire?

What else?

He taught the Tupinambás
how to shave,

how to make weapons
to beat the enemy,

to plant manioc
and corn,

to drink "cauim."
He taught us how

to build houses.
We lived like animals.

He built a house

and told us every family
could have the same.

The house that the
new god had built

was stronger than
our miserable huts.

Not a single drop of
rain fell inside...

Where there were straw
roofs and log walls,

the new god built
a small village

with brick and
stone-walled houses,

with streets and squares,
barracks for the warriors,

and a castle for the
council of chiefs.

The Tupinambás cannot
forget their enemies

till their very
last day.

Tupiniquins enemies...
Portuguese enemies...

The men were jealous
of the god and

decided to k*ll him.

They forced him to
jump through a fire.

He fell and was
burned alive.

From his head came out
thunders and tempests...

My husband!

Then he taught us how
to cultivate the land

to have big crops.

He worked alone with the
women and the children

since the men were
busy hunting, fishing,

and preparing for w*r.

Your old customs...

Look at the
Portuguese!

He goes around
only with women.

They will be my
sl*ves, like you.

Once more!

The Portuguese!

Stop there, Portuguese!

I want gunpowder.

I've brought many boxes...

...axes, beads...

...and combs for
your wives.

I want gunpowder...

plenty of gunpowder.

I'll get it later on...

...from father.

He's on board a ship
sailing from Rio.

I'm going to exchange my
gifts with another one.

Let's make a deal.

As I see, you
want beads.

But you're not allowed
to come along this time.

I've tried to rescue you, but
Cunhambebe is not prepared.

You'd better
wait a little while.

My goods may
interest you.

In exchange for what?
Your flight?

It's impossible.

I want gunpowder.

Impossible.

Ten barrels, at worst.

Listen, no
French captain...

...not even Sir Villegagnon
will ever give gunpowder...

...to these barbarians.

It would be nonsense.

It's for me.

Don't you understand you can't
have a thing of your own?

All you have belongs
to Cunhambebe.

No trade with you.

Is it worth that much?

Look at her
belly button.

Not bad!

The coin.

Let's bargain honestly.

Don't think you
can run away.

The captain wants
to leave at once.

A rival of mine.

Give me that.

It's mine, I found it!

Half and half.

No. We've made a deal.

Where are you going?
Come back.

Come on!

Let's see the
big ship.

Come along.

You'll see...

...some nice things...

...my cousin gets...

...on board.

Come on!

Don't be afraid.

We'll be right back.

I want you to stay...

...by my side.

You are going.
to see...

...things you never saw.

There will be many
beads for you...

Nobody owns such a stuff.

Only my cousin.

They'll come back.

I'm not sad.

What do you need all
these necklaces for?

And all these combs?

The Frenchmen promised to
bring me gunpowder...

...as well as necklaces,
combs, and mirrors for you.

Will you be able to
k*ll more Portuguese...

...and Tupiniquins
with mirrors?

I've k*lled many
of them...

...and I'll do even
more with g*ns.

Our enemy is afraid.

Our brothers have been k*lled
by Portuguese gunmen.

I want a revenge
of my own.

A Tupinambá is valiant...

...and never forgives
his enemy. Like me!

You are going to die
like an animal.

Wait! I can get
some gunpowder.

I'll make some gunpowder
with the help of Tupâ.

I'll make it out of
sand and pepper...

...this evening...

...when Tupâ, the
thunder god, will speak.

And tomorrow...

...tomorrow you'll
have the gunpowder.

"They believe in the inmortality
of the soul, in thunder and devils.

It seems that this
seed of religion grows

...and is not extinguished
in them...

despite the shadows in
which they live."

So little?

Tupâ has spoken too much.

There should be
more gunpowder.

I'll make more.

Is there any feast
in the settlement?

The chiefs are
praying for rain.

Go on, till Tupâ speaks.

Go on, don't stop!

I'll build my
house near yours.

My uncle is waiting for me.

I'm going to visit him,

but I'll be back to make
some gunpowder...

...and to live here
as a friend.

I'll leave on the first
ship that arrives here.

First, you have to
fight beside me.

It's time to attack
our enemies.

You work the g*ns.

We'll attack the Tupiniquins
with all our might.

I'll send for
my relatives...

...all over around.

Weapons and flour
are ready.

Only helpful dreams...

...are missing.

Try to dream of our
enemies' burnt flesh...

...and ask the chief and
your wife for advice.

We shall win!

"The natives believe
that the soul...

...of those who conquered
their enemies...

...will gor to
pleasent places."

Chief!

Our ancestors agree.

We want to revenge the
outrage of our enemies.

There they are.

We're going to k*ll and capture
a large quantity of them.

I dreamt of my father
looking for me.

Following the w*r?

Yes, after helping Cunhambebe
to defeat his enemies.

But I came back.

We shall win!

The sea will watch the
end of the Tupiniquins.

Cunhambebe will know
how to beat them!

"In this country no
Governor, no Bishop...

...or other authority could
please God, Our Lord...

...for evil is much
impregnated in the customs."

Father Nóbrega - Missionary

My sl*ve is ready.

We'll eat him
this moon.

And I'll get a
further name.

My cousin Ipiraguaçu
will receive this arm.

That one to Mbitatá.

The neck belongs
to Seboipebe.

Are you going to
die as a brave...

or will you weep like
the Portuguese?

Why did you come here?

I came to make
gunpowder...

for my master.

It will not rain
before the feast.

Tupâ does not need
the rain to speak.

Are you going to weep?

What about you?

Yes, I'll feel unhappy.

But then you'll
eat me.

What must I do
during the feast?

Show yourself a brave.

You have to run...

...and then all of us
shall run after you.

Run quickly...

as a warrior does.

You can't escape...

...but you'll be respected.

You'll be led back...

...and the women will
paint your head.

You have to dance for a
while tied to a rope.

Cunhambebe will bring
the "iverapema".

You'll be allowed to throw
fruts and stones...

...on those who are
going to eat you.

Then Cunhambebe will say:
"I'm here to k*ll you."

"Because your people...
have k*lled...

...many of ours."

You must answer:

"When I die...

...my friends will come...

...to avenge me."

Say it again!

My friends will come
to avenge me.

No...
"When I die..."

"...my friends will
come to avenge me."

When I die, my friend will
come to avenge me.

Then Cunhambebe will
lift the "iverapema"...

and you must do like
that...like that.

But it can't help...

...because two warriors
will be holding the rope.

It will beat you
just upon your head.

And then?

Women will pour hot
water on your body...

...both your
arms and legs...

...will be cut... and
everybody will eat a piece.

My little neck!

My little neck!

Leech!

My little neck!

What a delicious meat!

I am here
to k*ll you...

...because your people
have k*lled...

...many of ours...

...and eaten them.

Talk!

"When I die...

...my friends will come...
to avenge me.

No one of yours...
will remain upon this land."

"I fought on the sea, so that no
Tupìniquin remained alive.

Laid along the shore...

...the dead covered
almost a league."

Mem de Sá. Governor
General of Brazil, 1557.

THE END