Set against the backdrop of WWII and the coffee cycle's decline, it centers on the fierce rivalry between two Italian immigrant families in São Paulo—the Mezengas and the Berdinazzis . Despite the feud, Enrico Mezenga and Giovanna Berdinazzi fall in love and have a son, Bruno.
, an epic Brazilian telenovela written by Benedito Ruy Barbosa , stands as a landmark of 1990s television. Originally aired between June 17, 1996, and February 14, 1997 , the complete saga consists of 209 episodes (often cited as 208 in international or syndication formats) and has reached millions of viewers across more than 100 countries. The Epic Narrative: A Two-Phase Saga
The story is structured into two distinct historical periods, masterfully blending melodrama with socio-political commentary.
Years later, Bruno Mezenga ( AntĂ´nio Fagundes ) is a wealthy cattle baron known as the "King of Cattle". While successful, his personal life is in turmoil due to an unhappy marriage to LĂ©ia ( SĂlvia Pfeifer ). His life transforms when he meets Luana ( PatrĂcia Pillar ), a mysterious woman traveling with a landless workers' movement. Unbeknownst to them, they are cousins, both descendants of the feuding Berdinazzi-Mezenga bloodlines. Cast and Creative Team O Rei do Gado - Luiz Fernando Carvalho
