‘O Ancoradouro do Tempo’ by Sol de Carvalho is an adaptation of the book ‘A Varanda de Frangipani’ by Mia Couto, premiering in the week marking the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence.
The filmmaker expressed his desire to convey a message of integrity, coherence, and resilience, as the narrative involves investigating a crime linked to the trafficking of albino organs.
“An albino’s kidney can cost $50,000 [approximately 43,000 euros]. Albinos in this eastern African region are victims of two criminal situations: on one hand, of healers and sorcerers who use organs for ceremonies, and on the other, they are victims of international trafficking, as human trafficking in Africa is a serious problem,” he lamented.
The film, a co-production between Portugal, Mozambique, Germany, Angola, and Mauritius, was shot at the Fortress of Mozambique Island and features a cast exclusively of professional Mozambican actors.
Today also marks the release of ‘A Vida Luminosa,’ the first feature fiction film by João Rosas, continuing the character Nicolau from the trilogy of short films made between 2012 and 2020 (‘Entrecampos’, ‘Maria do Mar’, and ‘Catavento’).
Nicolau, played by actor Francisco Melo, is a young man from Lisbon taking his first steps into adulthood, torn between temporary jobs, a desire to be a musician, and the aftermath of a broken heart.
“What interested me in this film was the formation of identity, when we start to follow our path, leave our parents’ home, start working, and stop being just children. The film is constructed around this dilemma,” explained João Rosas.
The short films and this feature form a tetralogy on growth and identity formation, chronologically capturing various stages of Nicolau’s growth from childhood to adulthood.
‘A Vida Luminosa,’ produced by Midas Filmes, will compete in July at the Karlovy Vary festival in the Czech Republic.
‘Mississipis,’ a documentary by António-Pedro premiering today, follows the creative work of choreographer Filipa Francisco in the show ‘A Viagem,’ first presented in 2011, which involved contemporary dancers and elements of folkloric groups.
A multidisciplinary artist, António-Pedro followed choreographer Filipa Francisco over a decade during the creation of this community project as it was developed and presented in various locations across the country.
António-Pedro, co-creator and composer of the soundtrack for ‘A Viagem,’ states that the film is a record of an encounter.
“An encounter is intensified by the need to create a professional show in a short time. It’s an object belonging to both groups, creating, in a rare moment of suspension, a new ‘us,'” said the director in a statement of intent.
The film includes participation from, among others, the Grupo Folclórico da Região de Arganil, the Grupo Etnográfico do Orfeão do Porto, the Grupo Folclórico e Etnográfico de Recardães (Águeda), and the Rancho Folclórico da Torredeita (Viseu).
‘Mississipis’ is a co-production between Terratreme Filmes and Companhia Caótica, co-founded by António-Pedro.
According to the most recent data from the Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual, as of May, 23 Portuguese films or co-productions have premiered this year, with a total of 48,449 viewers and approximately 228,000 euros in box office revenue, representing market shares of 1.1% and 0.8%, respectively.
