O Salvador da Pátria (The Savior of the Homeland in English) is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo. It premiered on 9 January and ended on 12 August 1989, with a total of 186 episodes. It's the fortieth "novela das oito" to be aired on the timeslot. It is created by Lauro César Muniz and directed by Gonzaga Blota.
Contents
Plot
Conservative federal deputy Severo Toledo Blanco, the most powerful man in the Ouro Verde region, chooses the naive, simple-minded and illiterate working-class Salvador da Silva, or Sassá Mutema, to marry his mistress Marlene, in an attempt to divert attention from his adultery. The story reaches Juca Pirama, an unscrupulous radio host who demagogically exploits the episode on his radio show.
Soon, a double murder victimizes Marlene and Juca Pirama, with Sassá Mutema as the main suspect - the supposedly betrayed husband who has washed his honor in blood. The hard-working matuto is even arrested, but his innocence is proven with the support of the people and the beautiful teacher Clotilde, who is touched by his situation. It turns out that the moralistic Juca Pirama was actually corrupt and linked to drug trafficking.
Sassá gains popularity and becomes the target of attention from local politicians, who want to manipulate him into becoming mayor of the small town of Tangará. Supported by influential people, Sassá comes to power, but rebels and conquers his own political position, dreaming of a career in Brasilia. Along the way, he counts on the friendship of Clotilde, with whom he falls in love and ends up having an affair.