When Globo aired the first teaser for Mar do Sertão, a new one of six telenovelas on the network, the public immediately remembered Cordel Encantado, a storyline from the same slot that aired in 2011. This is because the promotional item used Cordel elements, such as the rhyme and the woodcut, which also appeared in the story of Duca Rachid and Thelma Guedes.
With more calls in the air, the impression was that a new Cordel Encantado (pictured above) was even bigger. Mar do Sertão is also set in the interior of the Northeast and brings among its main characters several archetypes that were also portrayed in the story of Açucena (Bianca Bin).
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Cordel Encantado is set in the small town of Brogodó, home to colonels like the villain Timóteo Cabral (Bruno Gagliasso). There was the mayor, the delegate, the priest and so many other characters that make up this microcosm. Mar do Sertão repeats these elements that populate the small town of Canta Pedra today.
Another point that reinforces the similarity between Cordel Encantado and Mário Teixeira’s new novel is the presence of Débora Bloch in the cast. The actress, who was the villain Ursula in the previous storyline, returns to play a shrew, Deodora. Renato Góes, Fausto from Cordel Encantado, is also back as Tertulinho.
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differences
But despite the similarities, Mar do Sertão is not a remake of Cordel Encantado in disguise. In fact, the two stories are quite different. The main difference is that unlike Cordel Encantado, Mar do Sertão is a contemporary soap opera, meaning it is set today. Cordel is set in the late 19th century.
Another difference is that the city of Brogodó, from Cordel Encantado, was between Sergipe and Alagoas, while Canta Pedra, from Mar do Sertão, is inland from Bahia.
Finally, as the name suggests, Cordel Encantado had a story with more playful elements involving European kingdoms and a lost princess. Mar do Sertão, on the other hand, is more firmly rooted in Brazilian reality, but makes the expected concessions to the features section.
In other words, it’s the visual identity of Mar do Sertão that references Cordel Encantado. In addition, the two novels have different proposals.
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When does Mar do Sertao premiere?
Mar do Sertão tells the love story of Candoca (Isadora Cruz) and Zé Paulino (Sergio Guize). However, fate separates them: Zé Paulino suffers an accident and is presumed dead. When he returns after ten years, his fiancée is married to his great rival Tertulinho (Renato Góes).
The storyline premieres Monday, August 22, replacing Beyond Illusion. Mar do Sertão was written by Mário Teixeira, with general direction by Allan Fiterman.
About the author
André Santana is a journalist, writer and cultural producer. He grew up with the “electronic nanny” and turned his passion for TV into a career in 2005 when he started the blog TeleVisão. Since then he has written about television in several specialist publications. He is the author of the book “TeleVisão: A Televisão Brasileira em 10 Anos” published by EB Ações Culturais and Clube de Autores.
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