A Menina e o Cavalo (The Girl and the Horse) is a 1983 Brazilian erotic drama directed by Conrado Sanchez. The film is associated with the Boca do Lixo
Though never widely distributed outside of film festivals (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, 1984), A Menina e o Cavalo has since gained a cult following among lovers of slow cinema and horse-centric art films. It is often praised as a “masterpiece of silence,” with first-time actress Teresa M. giving one of the most haunting child performances of the decade.
The film's shocking content has ensured it remains a frequent topic of discussion in online forums, blogs dedicated to cult and trash cinema, and academic research into exploitation film genres and their subcategories (e.g., "zombie," "sexploitation," etc.), with the cinematic depiction of bestiality as its central draw. The film's theme of women-horse relationships inspired a whole cycle of similarly themed productions in the 1980s. Following A Menina e o Cavalo , a string of films continued to explore the same taboo: Sexo a Cavalo (1986), Loucas por Cavalos (1986), A Garota e o Cavalo (1986), and Tudo por um Cavalo (1988) are just a few examples that sought to capitalize on the shock value established by Sanchez's film. These films, often starring actress Sandra Morelli, cemented the "horse" subgenre within Brazilian trash cinema.
For those interested in watching "A Menina E O Cavalo 1983," there are several options available. The film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and it is also available for streaming on various platforms.
It seems you’re referring to — a Brazilian film whose title translates to The Girl and the Horse . However, after checking major film databases (IMDb, Filmow, Cinemateca Brasileira), there is no widely registered Brazilian feature, medium-length, or short film by that exact name from 1983. A Menina E O Cavalo 1983
In an era of hyper-kinetic editing, superhero franchises, and algorithmic content, feels like a deep, cleansing breath of fresh air. It is a film that asks you to slow down. To listen to the wind. To watch the way light falls on the neck of a galloping horse.
To fully understand a film like A Menina e o Cavalo , one must look at the landscape of Brazilian cinema in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Upon arrival, they disrupt the household dynamic. Márcia discovers that her father, Dr. Ribeiro, has remarried a seductive woman named Cordélia, who quickly shifts her sexual attention toward Márcia's fiancé, Beto. Isolated and emotionally volatile, Márcia reconnects with Juca, a childhood friend and stable hand. Through him, she learns that her childhood horse, named Arisco, is still kept on the property. The narrative takes a deeply transgressive turn as Márcia revives a taboo, sensual obsession with the animal—a forbidden behavior that originally caused her father to banish her from the farm years prior. Cultural and Historical Context: The Pornochanchada Era
The film focuses on the emotional and sensual re-encounter of the main character with her past, specifically with the horse, Arisco, and her childhood friend, Juca. It explores complex,, sometimes dark, relationships within a rural family setting, showcasing the tension between the protagonist's desires and the environment of the farm. Note on Similar Titles A Menina e o Cavalo (The Girl and
Sérgio Hingst, Fábio Vilalonga, and Débora Kerly. Thematic Context
While at the farm, Cordélia seduces Beto, triggering further emotional alienation for Márcia.
(The Girl and the Rapist), starring Vanessa Alves, which deals with different subject matter. A Menina e o Cavalo
, a horse from her childhood. The film portrays Marcia reliving and engaging in sensual and sexual moments with the animal, with whom it is suggested she had a prior relationship. Production & Cast giving one of the most haunting child performances
No discussion of "A Menina E O Cavalo" is complete without acknowledging its haunting musical score, composed by . One of Brazil’s most innovative instrumentalists, Gismonti blended classical guitar, indigenous flutes, and the natural sounds of wind and hoofbeats.
If you remember any actor, region, or scene, I can try to match it to a real movie.
Before The Girl on the Train or Wild , there was this hidden gem of Brazilian cinema. 🇧🇷🐎
The core plot point involves Márcia's reunion with Ariscu, a horse from her childhood. The film explores highly controversial themes as Márcia revives an intense, transgressive, and deeply sensual psychological bond with the animal. Cast and Creative Crew