Four Days In September

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +2

Content: -2 1/2

This film is based on actual events that took place in 1969 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.The democratic government has been overthrown by a military dictatorship, and the MR8, a group of young communists, sets out to overthrow the dictatorship.The leader Maria (Fernanda Torres) teaches seven trainees to fire pistols and when they're ready, the group robs a bank to finance their operation. Cesar is captured, and Paulo (Peter Cardoso) hatches a plan to kidnap the American ambassador (Alan Arkin). Their plan is to coerce the American government into forcing the dictatorship to release 15 political prisoners, including Cesar. The film includes gorgeous pictures of Brazil, and its depiction of problems uncommon in the U.S. and the unusual solution implemented by these naive idealists is interesting. Even so, 4 Days in September with its subtitles, will probably be only a moderate box office success.

In the process of robbing the bank, one civilian is shot. The Brazilian secret service man, Henrique, is brutal. As Cesar is tortured, his head is held under water. Later, Fernando and Maria are also tortured. Henrique has nightmares about all the torture he performs. The leader of MR8 threatens to kill anyone who disobeys his orders. He tells Paulo he must kill the kidnapped ambassador if they are about to be discovered. It is implied that one of the girls seduces a guard. Because the dialogue includes several obscenities and profanities, and the action includes some graphic violence, discerning viewers will skip 4 Days in September.

Preview Reviewer: Theresa Zumwalt
Distributor:
Miramax Films, 375 Greenwich, NY, NY 10013

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Once - Moderate

Obscene Language: Several (5) times (f-word 4, s-word 1)

Profanity: Few (4) times - Regular 2, Exclamatory 2

Violence: Few times - Mild and Moderate (torture by shoving a man's head under water, people threatened with guns and a man shot during bank robbery, man struck on the forehead and threatened with a pistol)

Sex: None

Nudity: None, but near nudity several times (man on the toilet, a man in boxer shorts, a woman wears babydoll pajamas, pictures of girls in bikinis flashed on screen

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Few times (kissing passionately; young girl dances seductively)

Drugs: None

Other: Cigarette smoking; frightened prisoner soils himself

Running Time: Unknown
Intended Audience: Adults


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