Based on the novel by Graciliano Ramos, this film charts the struggles of Fabiano, his wife and two young sons as they wander through the drought stricken lands of northeastern Brazil during the early 1940s. The film is considered a cornerstone of Brazil ’s Cinema Novo movement. DVD includes Portugese audio track, English subtitles, " Baleia the Dog " (2002, 20 minutes). Director Nelson Pereira dos Santos; stars Átila Iório, Maria Ribeiro, Gilvan Lima and Genivaldo Lima.