The Pastor and the Guerrilla: Johnny Massaro proposes a dialogue between extremes in the film: ‘There is a middle way’

The Shepherd and the Guerrillafilm by Jose Eduardo Belmonte, brings dialogue from extremes in history about adversities faced by a communist guerrilla and an evangelical. The feature film opens this Thursday, the 13th, and has Johnny Massaro in the cast.

In an exclusive statement to Rolling Stone Brazilthe actor highlighted that, despite the troubled historical background of the production – set during the period of military dictatorship in Brazil, between the 1960s and 1970s – the plot has “affectionate” contours.

“I think the great thing about the film, for me, is that it is also immensely affectionate, you know? through all the characters and especially these two figures: an evangelical pastor and a communist warrior,” he said.

Massaro lives the protagonist John, who leaves college in Brasilia to join a guerrilla in the Amazon. After being tortured, he is sent back to the country’s capital and meets the evangelical pastor Zacchaeus (Cesar Mello).

“When you think of these clichéd figures like that, you realize throughout the film through the strength of the dialogue, that there is actually a middle way to these two extremes, as I believe there is a middle way to everything,” he argued. “I think dialogue is the fundamental tool in this exercise to find a place where everyone can follow.”

The extensive research process also included conversations with Jose Genoinowho participated in the Guerrilha do Araguaia: He is a very good friend of Nilson Rodrigues, who is the film’s producer. He was a guerrilla fighter in Araguaia and gave us this story, which I found super interesting. Although he represents a lot of things politically, he also participated in this moment and was generous enough to share it with us.”

the script of The Shepherd and the Guerrilla is signed by Josefina Trotta (September mornings It is My Name is Baghdad).

Watch the trailer: