Walter Salles’ first narrative feature in 12 years honours the director’s childhood memories of his subjects, packed with evocative details and layered emotion. On a sun-soaked street under the shadow of a military dictatorship, the Paiva household is bursting at the seams with life and love. Eunice and Rubens’ five children bring a contained chaos to their stream of parties, political debates and impromptu living room dancing, until one afternoon the safety of their home is breached.

Family life descends slowly into a nightmare when Rubens is abducted in plain sight, dragging Eunice into a lifelong battle for truth and justice. Featuring a stunning central performance from Fernanda Torres, Salles’ (Central Station, The Motorcycle Diaries) humanistic ode to resilience spans decades of determined activism, imbuing a dark chapter of Brazil’s history with dignity and emotional resonance.

Director
Walter Salles

Date of Release
2024

Running time
137 min

Rating
15

Country of origin
Brazil, France

Language
Portugese (English subtitles)