Atraves de janela is a chilling tragedy about a woman who cannot free herself from her son Raimundo (22). Selma’s love is obsessive. She spends all day on shopping and making cakes to surprise him. In this way she dominates his life and his body. Throughout the six days covered by the film, the routine of their intimate life together is disrupted. When Raimundo brings a severely wounded friend home with him, his behaviour changes entirely. He seems absent, comes home late and sleeps during the day. His mother is convinced that he has a new lover and is torn apart by jealousy. Then in the middle of the night Raimundo begs her to come to the house across the road. Apart from Raimundo’s new love, there are all kinds of mysterious men who are keeping the severely wounded kid a prisoner. Raimundo asks Selma to give the kid an injection. Only after she has committed her irrevocable deed, does she find out – as in a classic tragedy – what she has done. Through the Window show that people in their blind self- satisfaction are capable of gruesome crimes. The masterful thing about this film is that all the frustration and hatred is cloaked in everyday dialogues and trivial events. The story is consistently told from the perspective of a mother, who refuses to condemn her son for his deeds.
Film details
Productieland
Brazil
Jaar
2000
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2000
Lengte
83'
Medium/Formaat
35mm
Taal
Portuguese
Première status
World premiere
Director
Tata Amaral, Tata Amaral
Producer
Caio Gullane, Fabiano Gullane, Van Fresnot, A.F. Cinema e Vídeo, Grupo Novo de Cinema e TV