A 13-minute Portuguese heartbreak that'll wreck your entire afternoon.
Caught between the past and the present, Simão is an old man, dejected by time, pursued by an unfinished love that, since his youth, forever marked his life. Born into a humble family, the son of servants in a wealthy home, his reducing condition, imposed by the social standards of a backward mentality, raised barriers for him, like the overwhelming passion, which pushed him towards the affections of his only daughter. of his parents' employers, he could overcome. Wrapped in a dense and moving dramatic load, Canaviais is a poignant and provocative film, which challenges positions and opinions by addressing current and controversial themes, such as abortion and social stratification. Its history, more than defining paths, invites reflection and seeks to debate complex and wide-ranging issues.
Acting
Alfredo Brito carries decades of longing in every frame.
Cinematography
Gorgeous Portuguese landscapes that mock the characters' trapped lives.
Director
Lourenço Henriques
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Portugal's Estado Novo regime (1933-1974) enforced strict Catholic morality laws, making abortion criminal and class mobility nearly impossible—this film's historical wounds are very real.
Daniela Ruah was only 22 here, years before becoming NCIS: Los Angeles's Kensi Blye—her first on-screen heartbreak hit different.
PT
