Nino, tough but sickly, and his older brother Vicente live in the country with their father. After their father disappears ― we’re never sure why ― murder is suggested. Vicente brings his girlfriend to the house, and a different kind of family is established as the three youngsters grow fiercely protective of each other. But their uncle grows suspicious about the fate of the missing father and forcibly kidnaps Nino, taking him away to the city and leaving Vicente to locate him there.
Cinematography
16mm grain turns poverty into something almost holy.
Direction
Costa's static frames dare you to look away first.
Acting
Nuno Ferreira's sickly stillness haunts every scene.
Director
Pedro Costa
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Costa shot this while still a student at Lisbon's film school, using non-actors from the rural village where his own father grew up.
PT
