Brazilian filmmaker Daniela Thomas is steadily earning an increasingly bigger profile on the world cinema stage. Best known for co-directing 2008’s “Linha de Passe” with Walter Salles, she also helmed the “Loin du 16e” segment in the omnibus “Paris, je t’aime” and was behind the camera for the Opening Ceremonies at the Rio Olympic Games. Now she’s headed to the Berlin Film Festival to open the Panorama Special section with “Vazante,” which will also be part of the Reclaiming Black History program at the fest.
Starring Adriano Carvalho, Luana Nastas, Sandra Corveloni, Juliana Carneiro de Cunha, Roberto Audio, Jai Baptista, Toumani Kouyaté, Vinicius dos Anjos, Fabrício Boliveira, Adilson Maghá, and Geisa Costa, the film is set in pre-independence Brazil, and centers on the young Beatriz, who is married to her uncle, and aims to assert herself in a world driven by slavery, violence, and more. Here’s the official synopsis:
Brazil in 1821, shortly before independence. Like many of his countrymen mine owner Antonio has turned his back on mining and now breeds cattle. He lives on his estate with a group of slaves whose customs and languages are as different as the places from whence they were once abducted. Having lost his wife and child during the child’s birth he marries Beatriz, his late wife’s twelve-year-old niece. He dedicates himself to his cattle, leaving her alone with the slaves. Determined to find her place in this community, self-confident Beatriz manages to shake up the balance of power characterised by violence, bullying, sexual assault and miscommunication.
“Vazanta” debuts at the Berlin Film Festival on Friday, February 10th. Check out our captivating exclusive clip from the film below.
Browse through all our coverage of the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival by clicking here.