“Heartless” is the debut feature from the Brazilian director duo Nara Normande and Tião. Prior to this film, they had made three short films, including the critically acclaimed animated short “Guaxama,” which won awards at many film festivals. “Heartless” premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival and is based on the director’s 2014 short of the same name. The film follows a girl from a fishing village, as she prepares to leave for college in the city of Brasilia. During her last few days in the village, she becomes intrigued by a strange girl. While exploring societal constructs, going as far as delving into the origin of toxic masculinity, in addition to a character analysis that shows how such mentalities persist in future generations, the film leaves many other narrative threads underdeveloped, leading to a rather chaotic experience at times.
Tag Archives: Brazil
Cannes 2023 Review: ´The Buriti Flower´
Renée Nader Messora and João Salaviza´s ‘The Buriti Flower’ is an engrossing cinematic experience that had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. It weaves a naturalistic narrative around an Indigenous community of the Krahô people in Brazil. While the film occasionally blurs the line between fiction and documentary, it ultimately serves to drive home the poignant realities faced by the Indigenous community and their fight for justice.
Cannes 2023 Review: ´Power Alley´
Lillah Halla’s compelling directorial debut, “Power Alley,” packs a strong punch, introducing an innovative queer feminist perspective within the familiar sports drama genre. Premiered at the Semaine de la Critique sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival, this distinctive Brazilian film is headlined by the captivating Domenica Dias, whose electrifying performance strikes a chord with viewers.
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