Portrait of a Certain Orient

At the end of the 1940s, Lebanon is sliding towards a devastating conflict. Catholic siblings Emilie and Emir decide to leave for Brazil. Aboard the ship to their new home, Emilie falls in love with Omar, a Muslim merchant. For an enraged and jealous Emir, the relationship is intolerable. As the story unfolds against the backdrop of the majestic rainforest, Emir’s actions and the choice that Emilie subsequently makes lead to disastrous consequences.

Marcelo Gomes returns to IFFR with an exquisite, perfectly modulated black and white adaption of Milton Hatoum’s homonymous novel, his eighth feature following his Hubert Bals Fund-supported Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (IFFR 2006). Inspired by the enduring traditions of Lebanese emigration – Brazil is now home to a larger Lebanese diaspora than the population of Lebanon itself – Portrait of a Certain Orient chronicles the challenges faced by these migrants. Largely set in the grand and imposing Amazon rainforest and resonating with the contemporary Lebanese soul and experience, Gomes’ film is also a celebration of the richness that comes out of the melding of different traditions. The result is a powerful drama about memory, passion and prejudice, told with gentle zest.

– Vanja Kaludjercic