Winner: Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival — Rio de Janeiro, 1950. Classical piano prodigy Eurídice (Carol Duarte) dreams of studying at the Vienna Conservatory. Her sister, Guida (Julia Stockler), however, is the first of the siblings to make it to Europe, albeit fleetingly—after having eloped with a Greek sailor, Guida soon returns to Rio de Janeiro pregnant and alone, unbeknownst to Eurídice. Kept apart by a terrible lie, years pass as the two sisters forge their respective paths through their city’s teeming bustle, each believing the other to be half a world away.

Complementing the seductively saturated hues of the cinematography by Hélène Louvart, the film’s soundtrack features a soulful score from Benedikt Schiefer coupled with a poignant voiceover duet consisting of the sisters’ misaddressed missives. Culminating in an affecting cameo from Oscar nominee Fernanda Montenegro, Brazilian auteur Karim Aïnouz’s stirring epic of winding paths that fail to intersect balances cruel ironies. The black sheep finds herself truly seen, while the ostensibly good daughter becomes invisible—with carnal abandon and tenacious love. (Synopsis from the Toronto International Film Festival, 2019 Program Guide)

“A ‘tropical melodrama’…high emotion articulated with utmost sincerity and heady stylistic excess, all in the perspiring environs of midcentury Rio de Janeiro—while surprising with its pointed feminist politics and occasionally sharp social truths.” —Guy Lodge, Variety

“Sustained by a sense of warmth and solidarity that seems present even when all physical connection between the central characters has been broken. A deep love and respect for women—sisters, mothers, female friends who become family surrogates... ” —David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“It explores, to richly rewarding affect, notions of family and friendship, love and loyalty…If this is melodrama, it is so only in the best sense of the word.” —Geoff Andrew, BFI

The Belcourt Theatre does not provide advisories about subject matter or potential triggering content, as sensitivities vary from person to person.

Beyond the synopses, trailers and review links on our website, other sources of information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.