21/08/2007

The Other Side [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Portuguese director Luís Filipe Rocha (A Passagem da Noite) is one of the 20 films to showcase in the World Competition section of Montreal World Film Festival (August 23-September 3).

Starring Filipe Duarte (The Murmuring Coast), Maria d'Aires and Tomás Almeida the film follows a young man (Ricardo) trying to rebuild his life after a suicide attempt. Moving into his sister's house, Ricardo soon becomes close to his Down's Syndrome-afflicted nephew and their bond will uncover the relationship between people who, for differing reasons, seem to view themselves as social outcasts.

According to Rocha, "It is a film about people who believe to be ‘on the other side’. It’s about prejudice. It focuses on people who do not follow politically correct standards, either because they are they homosexual or because they suffer from Trisomy 21."

Produced by Paulo Branco for Clap Filmes, in association with Plateau Produções (Brazil), The Other Side received support from ICAM (€650m), RTP and the IBERMEDIA programme. Atalanta will distribute the film in November

Two further local titles screening in Montreal's sidebar sections are colonial war dramas: Joaquim Leitão's 20,13 (see news) and the António Ferreira's short film Deus não quis (Zed Produções), which was inspired by a folk song about a woman who sees her boyfriend leaving to fight.