In the heart of nature with a mesmerising photograph that framed the audience’s eyes, we are waiting to witness the hidden gem of life on the serenity of water surrounding Marajo Island in Brazil. However, all we are waiting for is an old wound to pierce our hearts and lead the viewers to the brink of catastrophe. Cinema no longer serves as a mere source of entertainment, especially after humans have witnessed the heartbreaking depictions of war, poverty, deprivation, and abuse on its screens. Despite all the bitterness of human violence, Brazilian director and writer Mariana Brennand Fortes creates a moving tale, Manas, with the magic of footage and the power of editing that will hold your breath for a while.
In the Amazonian jungle, on the island of Marajó, With her parents and three siblings, thirteen-year-old Marcielle (Tielle) lives near the riverbanks. The film begins with a view of the sea and a conversation between a young girl and her mother, illustrating the agony of a generation of women. She asks about her escaped sister, Claudinha, and the mother replies, “She found a good man, a better life far from here.” However, these sentences might provoke us to follow a stereotypical narrative of the young generation’s problematic situation in rural areas; it is a tragic story of abuse, violence, and human brutality. The misfortune is not limited to Tille’s life but also extends to the women of the island, whether they are at home or on the barge.
In her documentary Francisco Brennand, Brennand pays tribute to her great-uncle Francisco, a famous Brazilian potter and artist. After its 2012 premiere, the film took home the prizes for Best Brazilian Film and Best Brazilian Documentary at the São Paulo Film Festival. The director’s prior work includes the documentary “O Coco, a Roda, o Pnêu e o Farol,” but Manas is her first feature picture. Based on research that spanned a decade, the film delves into the complex and delicate subject of child sexual abuse and exploitation on the Amazonian island of Marajó.
The picture’s strength lies in its handling of the tale without overt references; Brennand uses deft camerawork and editing, combined with the force of the actors’ genuine performances, to release a narrative that is very difficult to articulate. Tielle (Jamilli Correa) is not that mature to depict her traumatic experience, but she brilliantly plays in silence and tells what is necessary with her eyes. Her tyrannised mother (Fátima Macedo) and her abusive father (Rômulo Braga) have left her with nothing but a deep wound, and the bitterness lies in the fact that she is not alone.
“The #MeToo and other women’s rights movements have encouraged and enabled us to break the silence and expose abusers around the world. But what about these invisible women, whom we do not even know exist? Through Manas, I aim to elevate the voices of these women and girls, honoring the stories they shared with me. I see cinema as a compelling vehicle for social and political transformation and hope that Manas will be able to mobilise viewers’ empathy and break the enormous taboo surrounding this difficult reality that affects all of us, women.” Said Mariana Brennand.
Brennand says in her interviews that she meets ladies on the barge and learns that some of them have suffered from sexual assault for years, but nobody has ever noticed. Despite the risks and difficulties of filming a documentary on these ladies, the filmmaker ultimately opted to make a film instead. He wrote the screenplay and hired performers to portray the harsh truth she described. During this difficult task, he sought the assistance of a psychotherapist and other experts to facilitate the manufacturing process. Not only did the director and producer, Carolina Brennand, work on the storyline, but so did Felipe Sholl and Marcelo Grabowsky with the narrative.
The world premiere of Marianna Brennand’s Manas, also known as Sisters, will take place during the Giornate degli Autori, or Venice Days, at the Venice Film Festival, which runs from August 28th to September 7th. Venice Days (Giornate degli Autori) is an independent part of the Venice Film Festival dedicated to presenting creative and independent films. The festival normally contains a varied mix of feature films, documentaries, and short films from throughout the globe, allowing budding talent and experienced filmmakers to showcase their work.
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