Roque Santeiro

In the drought-struck town of Asa Branca, the vanished Roque Santeiro has been elevated into a living saint, his supposed martyrdom used to keep a fragile social order intact. Eighteen years after he was said to have died defending a church, the town’s elite profit from his legend, inventing stories and even a grieving bride, Porcina, to keep common people compliant. When Roque unexpectedly returns, his presence threatens the myths that sustain local power, and those who benefited from his absence scramble to contain him and preserve their control. Strange events and outside forces add chaos, making truth and illusion hard to tell apart.

Released in 1985, the series was created by Dias Gomes, Aguinaldo Silva and Marcílio Moraes, and directed by Gonzaga Blota, Marcos Paulo, Jayme Monjardim and Paulo Ubiratan. The cast includes José Wilker as Roque, Regina Duarte as Porcina, Lima Duarte as Sinhozinho Malta, Paulo Gracindo as Padre Hipolito and Yoná Magalhães as Matilde.

Critics praised the show for its sharp satire of social and political hypocrisy, and for strong performances across the ensemble. Reviews noted how humor and melodrama are mixed to question power, faith, and myth-making in rural Brazil. Viewer ratings and fan memory reflect its lasting appeal, and the online vote average suggests steady admiration among later audiences.

The series left a clear mark on Brazilian television storytelling, popularizing archetypal characters who kept showing up in later references and parodies. Its blend of soap opera excess with dark comedy influenced subsequent writers and directors, and it often comes up in discussions about how TV can tackle social issues while still drawing mass audiences.

Beyond audience response, the show earned considerable industry recognition in Brazil, receiving acclaim for writing, acting and production values. Its success helped boost careers for several cast and crew members and reinforced the telenovela as a space for both entertainment and social commentary.