1907. Afonso starts life anew on a tropical island off the African coast, as a plantation physician. He is tasked with treating servants "infected" by Banzo, a profound homesickness fatal to many enslaved people who succumb to starvation or take their own lives. To prevent spreading, the group is sent to a secluded hill encircled by forest. Afonso tries to heal them, but understanding their spirits is a challenge stronger than any medical intervention.
Featuring: Carloto Cotta, Hoji Fortuna, Rúben Simões, Gonçalo Waddington, Sara Carinhas, João Pedro Bénard, Maria do Céu Ribeiro, Matamba Joaquim, Romeu Runa, Cirila Bossuet. With the special participation of Beatriz Batarda and Albano Jerónimo.
Director: Margarida Cardoso
Script: Margarida Cardoso
Cinematography: Leandro Ferrão
Sound Editor: Jaap W. Sijben
Editing: Pedro Filipe Marques
Music: Rutger Zuydervelt
Producer: Filipa Reis
Produced by: Filipa Reis (Uma Pedra no Sapato)
Co-produced by: François d’Artemare (Les Films de L’après-midi), Yohann Cornu (Damned Films), Frank Hoeve, Katja Draaijer (Baldr Film)
Associate Producer: Simon Ofenloch (ZDF/ARTE)
Funded by: ICA – Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual, Fundo de Apoio ao Turismo e ao Cinema, Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée, Aide aux cinémas du monde, Institut Français, Région Île-de-France, Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Eurimages – Council of Europe
With the support of: ZDF/ARTE, RTP - Rádio e Televisão de Portugal
Festivals and Awards
IndieLisboa International Film Festival
National competition (PT 05.2024)
Árvore da Vida Award
Universities Award for Best Portuguese Feature Film
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Crystal Globe Competition (CZ 07.2024)
Waterloo Historical Film Festival
Official Competition (BE 09.2024)
Festival do Rio
Panorama Mundial (BR 10.2024)
Sevilla European FF
Official Selection (ES 11.2024)
Caminhos do Cinema Português
Caminhos Selection (PT 11.2024)
Melhor Argumento
EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival
(PL 11.2024)
European Film Forum Scanorama
(LT 11.2024)
Olá Paris - Festival du cinéma portugais
(FR 11.2024)
International Film Festival of Kerala
(IN 12.2024)
Hainan Island International Film Festival
(CN 12.2024)
Pune International Film Festival
(IN 02.2025)
D'A Barcelona Film Festival
Catalan premiere (SP 03.2025)
Festival de Cinema Lusófono
(IN 03.2025)
International Film Festival of Uruguay
(UR 04.2025)
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival
(SP 04.2025)
12 Semana de Cine Portugés
(AR 04.2025)
5th Lusophone Filmfest India
(IN 05.2025)
European Film Festival Romania
(RO 05.2025)
15th Kugoma - Mozambique Cinema Forum
(MOZ 08.2025)
OKO Filmfestival
OKO Global Fiction Competition (UA 09.2025)
Special Jury Award- Ethnographic Representation
Globos de Ouro
Best Feature Film
Alexandre Trauner Film Festival
(HU 10.2025)
Portuguese Language Film Festival
(HU 10.2025)
Portuguese Cinema Days in Berlin
(GE 10-12.2025)
European Union Film Festival Nepal
(NE 11.2025)
