Madame Satã
Encyclopedia
João Francisco dos Santos (1900–1976), also known as the infamous drag
performer and capoeirista Madame Satã (Madam Satan), was born into a family of ex-slave
s in the state of Pernambuco
, Brazil
. Having been accused with conspiracy of murder, spending 27 years in prison, being a former gangster
and father of 7, he found refuge in the dark Bohemian
culture of Rio de Janeiro
amidst a lively world of pimp
s, prostitutes, deviants and samba
composers.
João is most commemorated as a figure who fought to redefine himself while battling the stigmas of being a son of former black slaves, illiterate and homosexual. João is quoted for once saying "I was born an outlaw
, that's how I'll live." In between his drag performances, his days as a hustler and his convictions of murder, his image as the legendary cabaret
performance artist Madame Satã meaning Madam Satan
having been influenced by the 1930's film by Cecil B. DeMille
about a woman disguising herself as a notorious temptress to win back her errant husband. João's infamous character represented an expression of resistance in this post abolitionist era in Brazil where black people, prostitutes, drug users and addicts and other 'deviant' outcasts were deemed useless to society.
Thus, João Francisco dos Santos became a living myth
that supported and represented the values and lives of such outcasts of society becoming himself a revolution
ary icon for the socially marginalized.
, directed by Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz
and was released in 2002. Lázaro Ramos
plays the titular lead.
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
performer and capoeirista Madame Satã (Madam Satan), was born into a family of ex-slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s in the state of Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Having been accused with conspiracy of murder, spending 27 years in prison, being a former gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
and father of 7, he found refuge in the dark Bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
culture of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
amidst a lively world of pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
s, prostitutes, deviants and samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
composers.
João is most commemorated as a figure who fought to redefine himself while battling the stigmas of being a son of former black slaves, illiterate and homosexual. João is quoted for once saying "I was born an outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
, that's how I'll live." In between his drag performances, his days as a hustler and his convictions of murder, his image as the legendary cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
performance artist Madame Satã meaning Madam Satan
Madam Satan
Madam Satan is a dramatic pre-Code musical film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille for MGM, one of the few DeMille made for the Culver City studio...
having been influenced by the 1930's film by Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
about a woman disguising herself as a notorious temptress to win back her errant husband. João's infamous character represented an expression of resistance in this post abolitionist era in Brazil where black people, prostitutes, drug users and addicts and other 'deviant' outcasts were deemed useless to society.
Thus, João Francisco dos Santos became a living myth
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
that supported and represented the values and lives of such outcasts of society becoming himself a revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
ary icon for the socially marginalized.
Film adaptation
João Francisco dos Santos's story was told in the film Madame SatãMadame Satã (film)
Madame Satã is a 2002 Brazilian-French drama film directed by Karim Aïnouz. It tells the story of Madame Satã and premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Lázaro Ramos - João Francisco dos Santos / Madame Satã...
, directed by Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz
Karim Aïnouz
Karim Aïnouz is a film director.-Filmography:* 2006 - O Céu de Suely , 35mm, color, 88 min.* 2002 - Madame Satã, 35mm, color, 105 min....
and was released in 2002. Lázaro Ramos
Lázaro Ramos
Luís Lázaro Sacramento Ramos is an Emmy Award-nominated Brazilian actor. He started his acting career with the Flock of Olodum Theater group, in Salvador, and is best known for his portrayal of João Francisco dos Santos in the 2002 film Madame Satã...
plays the titular lead.