Time takes it easy in São Romão, situated in a distant corner of Brazil. The river calmly follows its course, no one gets worked up. The young Branca is thinking about going to study somewhere else, but for now an important task keeps her at home: caring for her grandmother, who could use some company after her husband died. Bastú is a vivacious 81-year-old, just like her old friend Maria, who cheers up every local feast with her music and singing. The neighbours find a lot of support from each other, but not even Maria has any answer to the apparitions that haunt Bastú. Swirl includes several beautifully exciting music scenes, but excels primarily in its calm satisfaction. The filmmakers worked on their meticulous feature debut for six years. Their aim was realism, even though in São Romão that is coupled with a touch of magic. The actors are all amateurs who largely play themselves; their lives and memories are incorporated into this loving drama in which generation gaps fade and old and modern Brazil come together seamlessly.
Film details
Productielanden
Brazil, Germany, Spain
Jaar
2011
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2012
Lengte
90'
Medium/Formaat
35mm
Taal
Portuguese
Première status
None
Director
Helvécio Marins Jr., Clarissa Campolina
Producer
Luana Melgaço, Paulo Roberto de Carvalho, Sara Silveira, Lluís Miñarro, Gúdula Meinzolt
Cinematography
Ivo Lopes Araújo
Screenplay
Felipe Bragança
Editing
Marina Meliande
Production design
Felipe Duarte
Sound design
O Grivo
Music
O Grivo
Production company
Teia Filmes, Dezenove Som e Imagens, Eddie Saeta, Autentika Films
Sales / World rights holder
Urban Distribution International
Distributor NL / Benelux rights holder
Hubert Bals Fund
Principal cast
Maria Sebastiana Martins Álvaro, Maria da Conceição Gomes de Moura