The Mysterious Death of Pérola

A slow, obscure murder mystery about a young student who leaves her country, home and boyfriend to study art in a French city. She lives alone in a beautiful, but dark, old apartment where paintings stare at her and doors seem to have a life of their own. She's lonely and slowly loses herself in nostalgia and fear making dream, fantasy and reality merge with one another. Caravaggio, Renoir and Greuze reproductions combined with music from Ravel, Webern and Boulez create a special atmosphere whereby the boundaries between characters, set and story become diffuse. Director Guto Parente, who also plays one of the leads, manages to translate the girl's mental state and the mysterious state of the house into suitably dark cinematic language. The varied camerawork provides some relief without breaking the tension.