O Brado Retumbante

O Brado Retumbante (English: Next in Line) is a Brazilian miniseries produced by Rede Globo and displayed originally from 17–27 January 2012, in 8 episodes.

Directed by Ricardo Waddington, with a documentary tone and movie-like photography, the miniseries narrates the dilemma of an honest man who, raised to the position of president, undergoes the challenge of governing the country while trying to control his personal weaknesses.

Nominated for an International Emmy, the miniseries Next in Line depicts political drama and conflict experienced by a man who reaches the nation’s highest position. Paulo Ventura (Domingos Montagner) is an exception in Brazilian public life: an honest politician, he exerts all his energy in his fight against corruption. Victimized by a scheme from the opposition and from the enemies made as a result of his idealism, he is elected President of the Chamber of Deputies only to serve as a lame duck until the next elections.

By the irony of fate, both the current president and vice-president suffer a fatal accident and, being the first in the line of succession, Ventura is to assume command of the country for the remaining 15-month term. Ventura’s new position requires reconciliation with Antonia (Maria Fernanda Cândido), his ex-wife with whom he had a daughter, Marta (Juliana Schalch), and a son, Júlio (Murilo Armacollo). A teacher with a doctorate degree in Brazilian history, she agrees to be first lady on the condition that she is not publicly exposed to the amorous adventures that marked their troubled marriage, in addition to trying to reconcile with her son who is forced to leave their home.

Júlio, a transsexual who has cut ties with his father and lives in the USA, returns to Brazil for a sex change operation. Ventura’s adversaries, upon learning of his opposition to the procedure, seize the opportunity to tag him as homophobic.

However, the new president’s real trouble lies with the corrupt Floriano Pedreira (José Wilker), the Minister of Justice and later President of the National Congress. Helped by Senator Nicodemo Cabral (Luiz Carlos Miele), a stone-cold articulator, Floriano attempts to defeat the anti-corruption measures and to expose Ventura’s personal shortcomings.

A dossier on supposedly illicit funds leads to an impeachment process headed by Floriano, at the same time that the press reveals the first lady’s love affair with an Argentine writer. Dejected, the president renounces his position, yielding his office to Floriano. Investigations, nonetheless, reveal that the dossier had been forged with the help of Tony Abrahão (Leopoldo Pacheco), businessman who is interested in Senator Nicodemo’s political summit. Even though he was acquitted, Ventura decides to end his political mission and refuses to participate in another election, despite the pressure from Fernanda Dummont (Mariana Lima), his campaign manager and admirer.

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