A Dog's Will
The lively João Grilo and the sly Chicó are poor guys living in the hinterland who cheat a bunch of people in a small town in Northeastern Brazil. When they die, they have to be judged by Christ, the Devil and the Virgin Mary before they are admitted to paradise.
The film earned $4.9M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Dog's Will (2000) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Guel Arraes's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
João Grilo
Chicó
Rosinha
Padre João
Bispo
Severino de Aracaju
Major Antônio Morais
Dora
Nossa Senhora
O Encourado
Main Cast & Characters
João Grilo
Played by Matheus Nachtergaele
A clever trickster and street-smart swindler who uses his wit to survive and outsmart the powerful in a poor northeastern Brazilian town.
Chicó
Played by Selton Mello
João Grilo's loyal but cowardly friend, a dreamer and storyteller who follows João into various schemes and adventures.
Rosinha
Played by Denise Fraga
The compassionate and kind-hearted baker's daughter who serves as the moral center and love interest in the story.
Padre João
Played by Rogério Cardoso
The corrupt and greedy priest who refuses to bless a dog but accepts bribes, representing religious hypocrisy.
Bispo
Played by Lima Duarte
The vain and materialistic bishop who is easily manipulated by flattery and gifts, complicit in church corruption.
Severino de Aracaju
Played by Marco Nanini
The ruthless and violent bandit leader who terrorizes the town, representing lawless brutality.
Major Antônio Morais
Played by Paulo Goulart
The wealthy and arrogant landowner who exploits the poor and abuses his power without remorse.
Dora
Played by Virginia Cavendish
The major's unfaithful and manipulative wife who has affairs and shows contempt for her husband.
Nossa Senhora
Played by Fernanda Montenegro
The compassionate Virgin Mary who appears in the afterlife trial, advocating for mercy and second chances.
O Encourado
Played by Diogo Vilela
The devil figure who prosecutes the dead, representing justice through fear and temptation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes João Grilo and Chicó are introduced as small-time swindlers in the impoverished Brazilian sertão, hustling to survive through cleverness and lies in a world dominated by corrupt authority figures.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The cangaceiros (outlaws) led by Severino de Aracaju arrive in town, threatening violence and demanding valuables. This external threat disrupts the established order and raises the stakes dramatically.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: The bandits discover João's deceptions and a shootout erupts. João, Chicó, and several other characters are killed, seemingly ending their story - but this is actually the transition to the heavenly trial., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, João's defenses crumble as his sins are laid bare before divine judgment. The Devil seems to have won the case. This represents the "death" of João's old way of being - his cleverness appears insufficient for salvation., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The Virgin Mary advocates for João and Chicó, demonstrating that divine mercy transcends earthly corruption. The corrupt are punished appropriately, while João and Chicó receive a second chance at life through compassion., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Dog's Will's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping A Dog's Will against these established plot points, we can identify how Guel Arraes utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Dog's Will within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
João Grilo and Chicó are introduced as small-time swindlers in the impoverished Brazilian sertão, hustling to survive through cleverness and lies in a world dominated by corrupt authority figures.
Theme
The baker's wife states "The church only cares about the rich" when the priest refuses to bless her dead dog - establishing the film's central theme about divine justice versus earthly corruption and hypocrisy.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the corrupt social hierarchy: the greedy priest, the cowardly Major Antônio Morais, the manipulative baker's wife, and our protagonists who navigate this world through wit and deception.
Disruption
The cangaceiros (outlaws) led by Severino de Aracaju arrive in town, threatening violence and demanding valuables. This external threat disrupts the established order and raises the stakes dramatically.
Resistance
João Grilo must navigate between the demands of the dangerous bandits and the cowardly town authorities. He debates various schemes to save himself and Chicó, using his trademark cunning and improvisation.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The "fun and games" of João's elaborate schemes play out: the blessing bag con, the sacred cat deception, and various humorous confrontations with the bandits, priest, and Major showcasing João's quick wit.
Midpoint
False defeat: The bandits discover João's deceptions and a shootout erupts. João, Chicó, and several other characters are killed, seemingly ending their story - but this is actually the transition to the heavenly trial.
Opposition
In the afterlife trial, João faces the Devil's accusations about his lies and sins. The corrupt priest, Major, and baker's wife are also judged. João must defend himself against mounting evidence of his wrongdoing.
Collapse
João's defenses crumble as his sins are laid bare before divine judgment. The Devil seems to have won the case. This represents the "death" of João's old way of being - his cleverness appears insufficient for salvation.
Crisis
In his darkest moment, João processes that his earthly cleverness cannot save him from divine justice. He confronts the reality of his life choices and awaits final judgment with Chicó.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The Virgin Mary advocates for João and Chicó, demonstrating that divine mercy transcends earthly corruption. The corrupt are punished appropriately, while João and Chicó receive a second chance at life through compassion.