17/08/2006

Body Rice [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the first feature film by Hugo Vieira da Silva, which screened in competition at this year’s Locarno Film Festival was singled out by the international jury with a Special Mention for "its challenging new cinematic expression and courageous creativity".

Since the 1980s, German institutions have been sending young man and woman to southern Portugal to work on experimental programmes of social re-education. This was the starting point of Body Rice, which follows the journey of Katrin to Alentejo and her difficulties to adapt to a region in the process of desertification.

Vieira da Silva, a 32 year-old filmmaker who lives between Lisbon and Berlin, told Agência Lusa that, despite his background in documentaries (see news), Body Rice "does not have a sociological or documentary approach, and even less a moral view" about experimental re-educational programmes.

Produced by Paulo Branco for Clap Filmes, with the support of ICAM and RTP, Body Rice is being sold internationally by Madragoa Filmes.