The Given Word

Carrying a political and social punch, this drama about biases and misunderstanding by Brazilian director Anselmo Duarte starts with a simple premise. A peasant farmer makes a vow to carry a cross into the local church if his injured donkey is cured. Sure enough, the miracle happens, and the man gives away his land and sets out with a heavy wooden cross to walk the ten miles to his church. But once there, he is locked out -- it is past closing time. While he and his wife wait for the church to open again, everything starts to go wrong. Before much time has gone by, the peasant's mission has turned into a media circus, misinterpreted by everyone, including the priest.~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide