Sant’Ana do Agreste, a small village in Bahia, is waiting tensely for Tieta (Sonia Braga). She left 26 years ago after she had compromised herself sexually. After her departure, she only kept in touch with her family and the village through letters and cheques. Tieta is now the rich widow of an industrialist from S+M+o Paolo, and is accompanied by Leonora, a pretty yet sad girl whom she introduces as her step-daughter. Tieta is welcomed by the villagers and her family with respect and everyone tries to learn from her visit. Ascânio, the progressive secretary at the town hall, tries to persuade Tieta to contribute to the village’s electricity supply. Even the crazy mayor Dantas, who runs the village from a local pool hall, can feel the impact of Tieta’s presence. Loves blossom (again) and Tieta, soon the village’s greatest benefactor, is again embroiled in controversy.The film version of Jorge Amado’s bestseller from 1977, revealing the contradictions of Brazilian culture, does justice to the benevolent character of this book, its humour and vitality. Sonia Braga, Brazil’s greatest star, returned to her homeland after twelve years of working in the United States and herself chose the celebrated director Carlos Diegues, an old friend, to film this infectious tale.
