Following the success of the first edition last year, the Second Brazilian Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur will bring a selection of award-winning films from 5th – 8th December at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) Mid Valley Megamall. It is organized by the Embassy of Brazil in Malaysia in a partnership with Vale, one of the world’s leading mining companies, and Golden Screen Cinemas (‘GSC’), under its GSC International Screens arm, aimed at showcasing foreign language, art-house films on the big screens.
This year, the festival puts the spotlight on the ‘female gaze’ as its theme, highlighting the resilience and empowerment of women and offering insights into Brazilian society, in its journey towards better gender equity and inclusion. These films are narrated through the lens of four renowned Brazilian women directors; Anna Muylaert (The Second Mother); Laís Bodanzky (Just Like Our Parents); Maya Da-Rin (The Fever) and Lúcia Murat (Paris Square). The films will be played in their original language, Portuguese, with subtitles in English.
H.E. Ary Norton de Murat Quintella, Ambassador of Brazil to Malaysia, explained the rationale that inspired the theme of this year’s event: “Women often capture different nuances and see the façade of common sense and the mechanisms of self-repression that permeate our daily lives. As their voice is often underrepresented in cinema in general, we thought it fitting and opportune to offer four portraits that shed a light on different aspects of Brazilian society, made by four talented and contemporary female film-makers. Though pertaining to a Brazilian context, their messages are often universal, and we hope audiences in Kuala Lumpur, ever so open to welcome art from outside the mainstream, will enjoy the programme.”
Vale, which recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary milestone in Malaysia, echoed the significance of the festival in highlighting the collective strides towards a more equitable future that champions greater diversity and inclusivity, built on unity and camaraderie that both Malaysian and Brazilian communities share.
“We are pleased to sponsor the Brazilian Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur for the second time. Filmmaking is a powerful cultural tool to foster a stronger advocacy towards a more sustainable and inclusive future; something that Vale is passionate about. We believe the selection of this year’s theme, which harnesses the essence of women-centric storytelling, is important, as Vale continues to support the flourishing cultural ties between Malaysia and Brazil, which are defined by the nations’ shared passion for diversity, inclusion, and progress,” said Leonardo Paiva, Chief Executive Officer of Vale in Malaysia.
The Brazilian Film Festival screenings are free and open to the public. Ticket redemption starts one hour prior to each screening at GSC Mid Valley Megamall, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The showtime schedule and synopsis of the films are as follows:
Just Like Our Parents (Como Nossos Pais), by Laís Bodanzky: In her late 30s, Rosa starts to reevaluate her life and contemplates setting aside her own dreams. When her mother reveals a long-kept family secret, it feels like the right moment for Rosa to make significant changes. Variety Magazine describes the film as “a story of universality and warmth about a woman feeling crushed by the impossible expectations she places on herself as wife, mother, daughter, and breadwinner.” The film’s accolades include Best Director and Best Actress at the Grand Prize of Brazilian Cinema and was selected to the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival.
The Second Mother (Que Horas Ela Volta?), by Anna Muylaert: Val has spent 13 years working as a nanny for Fabinho in São Paulo, achieving financial stability. However, she carries the emotional burden of having left her daughter, Jéssica, behind in northeastern Brazil, where she was raised by relatives. As the time for college entrance exams approaches, Jéssica decides to come to São Paulo to sit for the exams, reopening wounds because of her outspoken and strong-willed personality. It was voted as one of the 100 best Brazilian movies of all time by a poll of critics and won the Panorama Audience Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
The Fever (A Febre), by Maya Da-Rin: Justino, a 45-year-old member of the indigenous Desana people, works as a security guard at the Manaus cargo port. Since his wife’s passing, his main companion has been his youngest daughter, who was accepted to study medicine in Brasília and is preparing to leave soon. As the days pass, Justino is struck by a debilitating fever and, feeling
disconnected from his ancestral home, struggles to cope with a life that no longer offers him a sense of belonging. The film received critical acclaim from Golden Leopard for Best Actor and FIPRESCI International Film Critics Award at the Locarno Festival, Best Director at the Chicago Festival and Best Picture at the Grand Prize of Brazilian Cinema.
Paris Square (Praça Paris), by Lúcia Murat: Camila, a Portuguese psychoanalyst who comes to Brazil to conduct research on violence at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, has a patient in Gloria, an elevator attendant at the university who carries a painful history of abuse. The thriller delves into a complex transference dynamic, where the fear of the Other gradually takes control of the narrative, shifting the power balance in unexpected ways. The film won Best Director and Best Actress awards at the Rio Film Festival.
This content is provided by Vale Malaysia Minerals.
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