As a privileged teenager living in an affluent suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Jean has little to worry about beyond games, grades and girls. But as his overbearing father drags the family into debt, Jean is forced into a change of lifestyle which opens his eyes to the world beyond his 'casa grande' - not least that of the feisty, mixed-race firecracker Luiza. Cultures, classes and generations collide in this engrossing coming-of-age drama from Brazil.
One day and one night, in a rustic country house rented by Luciana and Marcelo, who—despite having been together for eight years—have never been openly serious about their relationship. Their neighbors and friends, Cláudio and Fabiana, are seemingly happy. But it only takes getting to know them better to realize they have a very toxic relationship. Paula, Marcelo’s friend since his teens, soon understands she is entering a minefield. She decides to have a fun weekend despite the conflicts she might spark.
LA MANUELA is a movie about exile and self-reinvention. In august 2015, Manuela Lavinas Picq, a french-brazilian journalist and university professor, was arrested at a demonstration in Quito, Ecuador. That same night, her work visa was revoked and she was taken into custody. Manuela was forced to leave Ecuador, where she had lived for the last decade, losing her home, work and lover. This film tells the trajectory of an activist who defends the causes of indigenous peoples with a lot of identity.
