The Given Word

1962 · 1h38 · Film

Directed by Anselmo Duarte

Starring Leonardo Villar, Glória Menezes, Dionísio Azevedo, Geraldo del Rey, Roberto Ferreira, Othon Bastos, Antônio Pitanga, Gilberto Marques, Norma Bengell, Jurema Penna

Ideal when you feel… Sad / low Exhausted

Zé is a very poor man whose most prized possession is his donkey. When his donkey falls terminally ill, Zé makes a promise to Saint Bárbara: If his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross - like Jesus - all the way from his city to Saint Bárbara's church, in the state capital. Upon the recovery of his donkey, Zé leaves on his journey. He makes it to the church, but the priest refuses to accept the cross once he discovers the context of Zé's promise.

Original title

O Pagador de Promessas

Original language

Portuguese

Screenplay

Anselmo Duarte, Dias Gomes

Music

Gabriel Migliori

Cinematography

H.E. Fowle

Cast

Geraldo del Rey, Roberto Ferreira, Othon Bastos, Antônio Pitanga, Gilberto Marques, Norma Bengell, Jurema Penna, Milton Gaúcho, Enoch Torres

Updated July 22, 2026

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