This could be two films. Either it’s a film-noir thriller, in which information emerges in fits and starts in a roller-coaster ride to inevitable danger. Or it’s a psychological drama with a poetic bent, in which the viewer is immersed in the memories of the troubled protagonist.
The protagonist is Marina, who returns to Rio de Janeiro after an absence of 10 years. The motivation was a mysterious postcard, but Marina herself doesn’t really know why she is back in town. She looks for answers with an ex-boyfriend and her sister, but doesn’t get any further. Gradually, daydreams and reality start to mingle and paranoia grips her.
Rio Belongs to Us was made on a modest budget of less than 200,000 dollars, but that can’t be seen in the design. The camera effectively captures the light and space of the metropolis, which can be stunningly beautiful one minute and threatening the next. See also Harmonica’s Howl and Eden.
Film details
Country of production
Brazil
Year
2013
Festival edition
IFFR Unleashed
Length
75'
Medium/Format
DCP
Language
Portuguese, English
Premiere status
-
Director
Ricardo Pretti
Producer
Rita Toledo
Screenplay
Ricardo Pretti
Cinematography
Ivo Lopes Araújo
Editing
Luiz Pretti
Production design
Rita Toledo
Principal cast
Mariana Ximenes, Leandra Leal
Production company
DAZA
Sales / World rights holder
DAZA
Distributor NL / Benelux rights holder
Hubert Bals Fund
Shows of "Rio Belongs to Us"
Available
Video on demand
Stream Rio Belongs to Us
This film is available for streaming. Login to start streaming.