O Noviço Rebelde ("The Rebel Novice") is a 1997 Brazilian comedy film directed by Tizuka Yamasaki. It is the 44th film by the comedy group "The Tramps".
This time, Didi (Renato Aragão) is the sexton of a church in Ceará that ends up being destroyed by a storm. One day, Didi becomes the target of the wrath of Colonel Pereira (Roberto Guilherme), who suspects he knows where his wife Teresa (Luma de Oliveira) has hidden a fortune in gold. With the help of his friend Dedé (Dedé Santana), Didi flees to Rio de Janeiro, where he becomes a driver for the children of Felipe (Tony Ramos), a wealthy businessman. Although the children don't like him, Didi soon manages to win the friendship of the whole family. The situation gets complicated when Didi convinces Felipe to give a job to Maria do Cé (Patricia Pillar);u, Dedé's sister and with whom Didi is in love. The problem is that Felipe and Maria do Céu fall in love with each other...
The Rebel Novice is a notable film in the Tramps filmography for a few reasons. It is the group's first film made after the resumption of Brazilian cinema (in the 1990s, President Collor had closed Embrafilme, the main Brazilian film distributor, causing only three films to have been released in Brazilian cinemas in 1992). It is also the first film made after Mussum's death, which occurred in 1994 (Zacarias, the fourth member, died in 1990). It is the fourth of the seven Tramps films with the appearance of Roberto Guilherme. And finally, the film features the famous Brazilian musical duo, Sandy & Junior.
This film provides the examples of:
- Chekhov's Skill: In the first act in Ceará, Dedé tells Didi that Maria dos Céus studied in France. This information later turns out to be important when Maria uses her knowledge of foreign languages to help Felipe.
- Decomposite Character: Sort of. The movie is based on The Sound of Music with Didi as the Magical Nanny Maria, but Maria dos Reis as the widower father's love interest after she arrives to work at his house too.
- Defrosting Ice King: Felipe. When his first wife died, he put up a wall and became very stern and strict. Didi and Maria make him go back to being the happy, smiling man he was.
- Did Not Get the Girl: Subverted. Didi is sad to see Maria in love with Felipe, but in the end he marries his second choice, Teresa.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Colonel Pereira is jealous of anyone who approaches his wife, as Didi discovers when he asks her how she is. The Colonel responds by shouting that this is none of his business.
- Killed Offscreen: Colonel Pereira dies on a conflict offscreen,leaving his wife Teresa free to pursue a romance with Didi and find her treasure, which her husband always wanted to find.
- Love Triangle: Didi is in love with Maria dos Céus, who is in love with Felipe. Teresa is in love with Didi, but she is married to Colonel Pereira.
- Musical Episode: The film has several musical numbers, courtesy of Sandy & Junior.
- Parody: The film's plot is clearly a parody of The Sound of Music, but with Didi in Maria's place, and the character Maria do Céu as the love interest of the widowed father of several children.
- Romantic False Lead: Didi for Maria dos Céus e Felipe.
- Running Gag: Didi calling Dedé his future brother-in-law, who gets annoyed with him.
- Scenery Porn: The first act shows some beautiful locations in Ceará.
