HISTORIAS que só existem quando lembradas

Stories only exist when remembered" is the literal translation of this refined, beautifully photographed opening film of the Berlinale. A young photographer spends a few nights in a remote village in the Paraíba Valley in Brazil, where time seems to stand still. Literally, because since 1976 no-one has died here.

The residents don't however do real life but would rather immerse themselves in memories, even though they slip through everyone's fingers. The arrival of the young photographer who makes mysterious pinhole photos, shakes the villagers awake. This happens above all to the beautiful old Madalena, who in a touching scene, literally exposes herself and changes from an anonymous baker in a remote corner of the world into a woman who springs to life again. Debutant Julia Murat makes use of subdued natural light and surrounding sounds, with a tinge of melancholy which hits exactly the right note. Released by EYE.