Açúcar

  • 90'
  • Brazil
  • 2017

Ultra-rich vs. poverty stricken, white vs. black: these contradictions – a result of slavery’s long history – tear Brazilian society apart to this day. Directors Sérgio Oliveira and Renata Pinheiro, who also wrote the script, show this through the fortunes of a female member of the rich elite using hallucinatory, almost magic-realist dream sequences. 

Full of nostalgia, wealthy Bethania Wanderley (Maeve Jinkings) returns to her family estate and former sugar plantation. A conflict awaits her: having taken over the land, the former plantation workers also want the sugar cane mill, to turn it into a slavery museum. Wanderley refuses to relinquish the family property and continues her almost colonial lifestyle. This brings her into direct conflict with workers’ leader Zé, but also with her own past and deep-seated prejudices. 

Directors
Sérgio Oliveira, Renata Pinheiro
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Brazil
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
90'
Medium
DCP
International title
Sugar
Language
Portuguese
Producers
Sérgio Oliveira / Aroma Filmes, Letícia Friedrich / Boulevard Filmes, Juca Worcman, João Worcman
Production Companies
Aroma Filmes, Boulevard Filmes, Canal Brasil, Synapse
Sales
Boulevard Filmes
Screenplay
Sérgio Oliveira, Renata Pinheiro
Cinematography
Fernando Lockett
Editor
Adelina Bichis
Production Design
Tiago Melo
Sound Design
Manuel de Andrés
Music
Guile Martins, Julia Zakia
Cast
Maeve Jinkings, Dandara de Morais, Magali Biff, Zé Maria
Directors
Sérgio Oliveira, Renata Pinheiro
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Brazil
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
90'
Medium
DCP
International title
Sugar
Language
Portuguese
Producers
Sérgio Oliveira / Aroma Filmes, Letícia Friedrich / Boulevard Filmes, Juca Worcman, João Worcman
Production Companies
Aroma Filmes, Boulevard Filmes, Canal Brasil, Synapse
Sales
Boulevard Filmes
Screenplay
Sérgio Oliveira, Renata Pinheiro
Cinematography
Fernando Lockett
Editor
Adelina Bichis
Production Design
Tiago Melo
Sound Design
Manuel de Andrés
Music
Guile Martins, Julia Zakia
Cast
Maeve Jinkings, Dandara de Morais, Magali Biff, Zé Maria