A chance encounter brings together Áurea, a middle-aged teacher, and and Áureo, a young man. Áurea immediately tells the Greek myth of Endymion, a handsome young shepherd for whom the Moon Goddess yearns. She decides to come to Earth to kiss him, after which Zeus puts him to sleep for ever as punishment.
Áureo listens attentively to the stories the woman tells him. In her home, she tells him about her past as a writer, about her father and mother and about the loneliness in her life.
Sentimental Education is in fact one long monologue in which Áurea talks and then wordlessly dances or moves around the house. Júlio Bressane, a veteran of Brazilian experimental cinema, uses a theatrical setting to tackle themes such as art, spirituality and love. Despite the static tone, there’s also a lighter side. In the final scenes, the surprising past of the silent young man is revealed and the long series of out-takes at the end of the film show the fun side of making it.
- Director
- Júlio Bressane
- Country of production
- Brazil
- Year
- 2013
- Festival Edition
- IFFR 2014
- Length
- 84'
- Medium
- 35mm
- International title
- Sentimental Education
- Language
- Portuguese
- Producer
- Marcello Maia
- Production Company
- Republica Pureza Filmes
- Sales
- Republica Pureza Filmes
- Screenplay
- Rosa Maria Dias, Júlio Bressane
- Cinematography
- Walter Carvalho, Pablo Baião
- Editor
- Rodrigo Lima
- Production Design
- Moa Batsow
- Sound Design
- Vampiro, Damião Lopes
- Music
- Guilherme Vaz
- Cast
- Josie Antello, Bernardo Marinho