Pantanal: ‘My temperament is not affable’, assumes Osmar Prado

His presence is not the most frequent in ‘Pantanal’, but even so, Velho do Rio, a character played by Osmar Prado, is still one of the protagonists of the novel – both in the original version, written by Benedito Ruy Barbosa, and in the one that is on the air, updated by his grandson Bruno Luperi. For Prado, the character, in addition to being of vital importance for the unfolding of the plot, is also a channel found by the authors to pass on important messages, such as those focused on environmental issues. In an interview with F5the actor talks about the national political scenario, the directions of the soap opera and the not always so friendly relationship between part of the cast.

After all, what is the story of Velho do Rio? Not everyone understood where he came from and what his role was in the story of ‘Pantanal’.

Joventino, Jove’s grandfather, is the Old Man from Rio. He died back there, when he went hunting a marruá ox alone. He was bitten by a snake and fell in love with another, an anaconda. He has the power to appear to whomever he wants. His philosophy of life is the preservation of nature, showing that nature is stronger than anything and that it is useless for man to try to use force to fight against it. Will lose.

Would the scene of the fire that is still on the air be a warning for the fires in the region?

Yup. And the Old Man of Rio, with his staff, as if he were a Don Quixote de la Mancha, tries to put out the fire by himself, but he will be defeated by the flames. He almost dies again. Juma, with the knowledge of the healing power of herbs, will bring him back.

Would the Velho do Rio be the author’s voice?

I do not have any doubt. I did other works by Benedito, such as Renascer [1993], in which I played Zé Galinha. He had serious arguments, questioned why he didn’t have a piece of land. There were anthological discussions about agrarian reform, and the outcome of Tião was as tragic as the end of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira [mortos recentemente] in the Amazon. Bruno, even when he was released from Funai, continued his fight in defense of indigenous lands. A sad episode in our history.

You have a historical connection with the Workers’ Party. Will you participate in the campaign for the presidential elections?

I never joined the Workers’ Party, but I have always been on the side of the democratic force, and one of the biggest democratic forces at the moment is the PT. He allied with the other progressive parties. This October election will actually be a referendum. Either we choose fascism or we choose democracy. I have always been for democracy.

Does it bother you that fellow professionals support Jair Bolsonaro?

I think many people were deluded. Bolsonaro is a person totally unprepared and unqualified for human interaction. Today, those who supported him are either totally sorry, like Alexandre Frota, who today even campaigns for Lula, or they are blind.

Is the mood in the soap opera as good even among the actors as we see on social networks and on Globo TV shows?

When you bring together acting professionals and a handful of technicians in a distant and different place like the Pantanal, of course the climate is varied, the mood is varied. There are great, good, difficult and dramatic moments that need to be worked around. It’s not a gathering of monks at the monastery. Nooo!!!. They are human beings. There are problems, as in any soap opera.

Press reports reported that you had problems with the young cast at the beginning of the recordings.

I didn’t have any problems. In fact, we had some clashes. I, for example, am an actor who charges a lot because I study. When I have a scene to shoot, I know the text by heart and scrambled. Some of them are not so careful. My charge is for the scene to be well done. They denounced me as a star, you know?

Like this?

They denounced me as a person who acts like a star, ignorant, they told a journalist that I was aggressive. Lie. If it were true, the person who made the complaint should have shown his face. I would talk and apologize if I did wrong. What did not happen. At 74 years of age and almost 60 years of career, will I behave like a star? I am fully aware of my importance and unimportance in any artistic process.

Do you not have a difficult temper?

My temper is not affable. I’m emphatic in what I say, in what I do, but I’m not bad character. The scene I did with José Loreto when Velho do Rio tells that he is Ze Leôncio’s love son, he came with everything perfect. It was an amazing scene and the whole crew cried. I ask: how does a veteran star act? I’m sure no actor or actress doesn’t have the joy of working with me. I’ve reached a level that my vanity doesn’t speak louder than my intelligence and sensitivity.