Anita Rocha da Silveira has dreamed up an unconventional, shaky but interesting swipe at Bolsonaro’s authoritarianism
It’s flawed and all over the place in conventional script terms, but there’s real interest in this freaky, peculiar, interestingly directed psychodrama satire from Rio-born artist and film-maker Anita Rocha da Silveira, which takes aim at the conformist-authoritarian patriarchy of Jair Bolsonaro’s Brazil.
Mari (Mari Oliveira) is a member of an evangelical Christian young women’s singing group called Michele and the Treasures of the World, who (like the Barden Bellas in Pitch Perfect) sometimes squabble when one of their number does some unrehearsed freestyling in performance; their leader Michele (Lara Tremouroux) is impossibly glamorous and blond with a YouTube channel, discussing topics such as “How to take the perfect Christian selfie”.
It’s flawed and all over the place in conventional script terms, but there’s real interest in this freaky, peculiar, interestingly directed psychodrama satire from Rio-born artist and film-maker Anita Rocha da Silveira, which takes aim at the conformist-authoritarian patriarchy of Jair Bolsonaro’s Brazil.
Mari (Mari Oliveira) is a member of an evangelical Christian young women’s singing group called Michele and the Treasures of the World, who (like the Barden Bellas in Pitch Perfect) sometimes squabble when one of their number does some unrehearsed freestyling in performance; their leader Michele (Lara Tremouroux) is impossibly glamorous and blond with a YouTube channel, discussing topics such as “How to take the perfect Christian selfie”.
- 7/10/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The first word we hear in “Medusa” is a spat-out “slut,” and the first song is Siouxsie and the Banshees’ forever haunting “Cities in Dust.” So we know immediately that writer-director Anita Rocha da Silveira isn’t messing around. And neither are her anti-heroines, a group of young Brazilian evangelicals who take their work for the Lord very seriously.
How He would feel about their approach is never addressed — at least, not by them. The girls attend a devoutly religious college, sing as the Treasures of the Lord choir at their megachurch and, when the mood happens to strike, anonymously attack strangers who stray from their idea of feminine purity.
The leaders of the group are Michele (Lara Tremouroux) and her second-in-command Mari (Mari Oliveira), though the latter slips in stature once she’s maimed by a victim who fights back. The scar on her cheek is barely noticeable, but...
How He would feel about their approach is never addressed — at least, not by them. The girls attend a devoutly religious college, sing as the Treasures of the Lord choir at their megachurch and, when the mood happens to strike, anonymously attack strangers who stray from their idea of feminine purity.
The leaders of the group are Michele (Lara Tremouroux) and her second-in-command Mari (Mari Oliveira), though the latter slips in stature once she’s maimed by a victim who fights back. The scar on her cheek is barely noticeable, but...
- 7/28/2022
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
Medusa Trailer — Anita Rocha da Silveira‘s Medusa (2022) movie trailer has been released by Music Box Films. The Medusa trailer stars Mari Oliveria, Lara Tremouroux, Joana Medeiros, Felipe Frazão, Bruna G, Carol Romano, and Thiago Fragoso. Crew Anita Rocha da Silveira and Érica Sarmet wrote the screenplay for Medusa. Plot Synopsis Medusa‘s plot synopsis: “Mari and her [...]
Continue reading: Medusa (2022) U.S. Movie Trailer: A Repressed Gang Member has an Awakening After an Attack Goes Wrong...
Continue reading: Medusa (2022) U.S. Movie Trailer: A Repressed Gang Member has an Awakening After an Attack Goes Wrong...
- 7/12/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"Do not be influenced by the worldly people." Music Box Films has debuted their official US trailer for a peculiar Brazilian sci-fi drama titled Medusa, which premiered at last year's 2021 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight sidebar. It also went on to play at TIFF and AFI Fest last year. Mari and her friends broadcast their spiritual devotion through pastel pinks and catchy evangelical pop songs about purity and perfection, but underneath it all they harbor a deep rage. In order to resist temptation, the friends try their best to control everything and everyone around them. However, the day will come when the urge to scream will be stronger than it ever has been. Described as: "a neon-tinged genre-bender that gives provocative form to the overwhelming feminine fury coursing through modern life, Medusa dares us not to look away." The film stars Mari Oliveria, Lara Tremouroux, Joana Medeiros, Felipe Frazão,...
- 6/30/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
You can run but you cannot hide — not even behind a blank mask of devotion.
“Medusa,” Anita Rocha da Silveira’s long-awaited follow-up to her 2015 film “Kill Me Please,” follows Mari (Mari Oliveira) as she harnesses her spiritual devotion into a “Purge”-esque rage against sexually active sinners alongside an all-female gang led by a male cult-like figure, played by Thiago Fragoso. Yet after an attack leaves Mari physically scarred, her entire worldview is torn apart. The film premieres July 29. Watch the trailer exclusively on IndieWire below.
“Nightmares of repressed desires and haunting visions of alluring temptation become undeniable and the urge to scream and release her paralyzing inner demons is more powerful than ever before,” the official description of the film reads. “A neon-tinged genre-bender that gives provocative form to the overwhelming feminine fury coursing through modern life, ‘Medusa’ dares us not to look away.”
Lara Tremouroux, Joana Medeiros,...
“Medusa,” Anita Rocha da Silveira’s long-awaited follow-up to her 2015 film “Kill Me Please,” follows Mari (Mari Oliveira) as she harnesses her spiritual devotion into a “Purge”-esque rage against sexually active sinners alongside an all-female gang led by a male cult-like figure, played by Thiago Fragoso. Yet after an attack leaves Mari physically scarred, her entire worldview is torn apart. The film premieres July 29. Watch the trailer exclusively on IndieWire below.
“Nightmares of repressed desires and haunting visions of alluring temptation become undeniable and the urge to scream and release her paralyzing inner demons is more powerful than ever before,” the official description of the film reads. “A neon-tinged genre-bender that gives provocative form to the overwhelming feminine fury coursing through modern life, ‘Medusa’ dares us not to look away.”
Lara Tremouroux, Joana Medeiros,...
- 6/29/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In a ceremony marked by laughter, tears, a lot of hugs and a celebration of a return to watching films al vivo, the 36th Guadalajara International Film Festival (Ficg) came to a close with the presentation of a long list of prizes to some of Latin America’s top filmmakers, many whose names are well-known in Mexico and across the region and many whose names will, no doubt, be well-known in the future.
In a contradiction fit for the movies, Rodrigo Guardiola and Gabriel Nuncio’s “The Comedian,” a film all about failure, took top honors as this year’s best Mexican film in competition with cinematographer Mario Secco scooping the best cinematography prize for his work on the film.
“It’s wonderful that this movie exists,” said Nuncio at the ceremony. “The truth is, I got to work with very talented people on this movie and I think that...
In a contradiction fit for the movies, Rodrigo Guardiola and Gabriel Nuncio’s “The Comedian,” a film all about failure, took top honors as this year’s best Mexican film in competition with cinematographer Mario Secco scooping the best cinematography prize for his work on the film.
“It’s wonderful that this movie exists,” said Nuncio at the ceremony. “The truth is, I got to work with very talented people on this movie and I think that...
- 10/10/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Brazilian writer-director Anita Rocha de Silveira made a striking feature debut six years ago with “Kill Me Please,” a uniquely antic yet unnerving cocktail of adolescent sexual awakening, giallo thriller elements and art-house ambiguity. Its boldness extends to the slightly bigger canvas and slightly older heroines in “Medusa.” Again offering a queasily satirical take on matters of sex and violence among emotionally flammable youth, this sophomore effort adds a more explicit sociopolitical critique.
The coiled-spring tension that kept “Please” taut despite its diffuse storytelling goes somewhat slack here, making for a less successful whole. Still, the audacity of de Silveira’s concept — in which enrollees at an upscale Christian college indulge in secret, moralizing vigilante mayhem — and .
Fans of the earlier film will immediately feel at home in a logical progression of its content, as the first few minutes here present girl-mob viciousness, then an equally bizarre musical number. Eight...
The coiled-spring tension that kept “Please” taut despite its diffuse storytelling goes somewhat slack here, making for a less successful whole. Still, the audacity of de Silveira’s concept — in which enrollees at an upscale Christian college indulge in secret, moralizing vigilante mayhem — and .
Fans of the earlier film will immediately feel at home in a logical progression of its content, as the first few minutes here present girl-mob viciousness, then an equally bizarre musical number. Eight...
- 9/22/2021
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Writer-director Anita Rocha da Silveira has created an evangelical town of purity in her Brazilian-set sophomore film Medusa. It’s the type of place all Christians wish they could send their children because they know they will be carried into God’s light. The young men form a militia group to honor His will against deviants that dare embrace sin. The young women form a gang in the likeness of their heroine angel, donning white masks to confront and assault the so-called “sluts” and “whores” who dare walk alone at night in search of carnal pleasure. Their violence? All part of God’s plan. Their chastity? A test to prove themselves worthy of pairing off with a like-minded believer to be married and live according to God’s unyielding law.
This existence becomes Mari’s (Mari Oliveira) calling. She’s second-in-command of their virginal posse and best friend to their leader,...
This existence becomes Mari’s (Mari Oliveira) calling. She’s second-in-command of their virginal posse and best friend to their leader,...
- 9/16/2021
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
“Medusa,” the latest film from rocketing Brazilian director Anita Rocha da Silveira, has released a twisted, neon-soaked trailer ahead of its debut at the Cannes Film Festival next week.
Set in contemporary Brazil, “Medusa” tells the story of 21-year old Mariana, who belongs to a world where women must always look perfect. In the trailer, we see her and her girlfriends try their best to control everything and everyone around them, even going to such extreme lengths as beating up women who have deviated from the right path.
“Mariana, I once read that girls’ names starting with the letter M are names of malicious women,” whispers a friend of Mariana’s into her ear in the opening moments.
The trailer, obtained exclusively by Variety, reveals that at night, Mariana and her friends form a vigilante girl squad put on creepy animal masks to hunt down the local girls who have sinned.
Set in contemporary Brazil, “Medusa” tells the story of 21-year old Mariana, who belongs to a world where women must always look perfect. In the trailer, we see her and her girlfriends try their best to control everything and everyone around them, even going to such extreme lengths as beating up women who have deviated from the right path.
“Mariana, I once read that girls’ names starting with the letter M are names of malicious women,” whispers a friend of Mariana’s into her ear in the opening moments.
The trailer, obtained exclusively by Variety, reveals that at night, Mariana and her friends form a vigilante girl squad put on creepy animal masks to hunt down the local girls who have sinned.
- 6/30/2021
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever has acquired “Medusa,” a timely drama directed by rising Brazilian helmer Anita Rocha da Silveira. The film will world premiere at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight.
“Medusa” marks Da Silveira’s follow up to her critically acclaimed feature debut “Kill me Please” which premiered at Venice in 2015 and went on to play at SXSW and New Directors/New Films, among other festivals. Da Silveira was previously at Directors’ Fortnight with her 2012 short “The Living Dead.”
Set in contemporary Brazil, “Medusa” tells the story of 21-year old Mariana, who belongs to a world where women must always look perfect. She and her girlfriends try their best to control everything and everyone around them, and that includes beating up women who have deviated from the right path. At night, their vigilante girl squad put on masks and hunt down the sinners.
“Medusa” is headlined by newcomers, including Mari Oliveira (“Kill me Please”), Lara Tremouroux,...
“Medusa” marks Da Silveira’s follow up to her critically acclaimed feature debut “Kill me Please” which premiered at Venice in 2015 and went on to play at SXSW and New Directors/New Films, among other festivals. Da Silveira was previously at Directors’ Fortnight with her 2012 short “The Living Dead.”
Set in contemporary Brazil, “Medusa” tells the story of 21-year old Mariana, who belongs to a world where women must always look perfect. She and her girlfriends try their best to control everything and everyone around them, and that includes beating up women who have deviated from the right path. At night, their vigilante girl squad put on masks and hunt down the sinners.
“Medusa” is headlined by newcomers, including Mari Oliveira (“Kill me Please”), Lara Tremouroux,...
- 6/9/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Even before coronavirus, Brazil’s film sector was in extraordinary trouble, victim of a near 18-month freeze on government film funding under far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Now, many executives fear a radical shake out. “We have the incentive freeze, coronavirus, economic crisis, need for a new audiovisual law,” says Fabiano Gullane, one of Brazil’s biggest film-tv producers. The shingle has drama “Paloma,” from Marcelo Gomes, on tap.
“I fear for the future of medium-sized and small companies in Brazil,” he says. “They are near 100% dependent on [federal film agency] Ancine, [and] may well not have the cash-flow to survive the crisis.”
Adds producer Rodrigo Teixeira: “If we don’t have access to subsidies, production will stop, not only because of the pandemic but also the way Brazilian film financing is structured.”
The double crisis will push Brazilian companies into producing for TV as well as Brazil’s digital platforms.
Last October,...
Now, many executives fear a radical shake out. “We have the incentive freeze, coronavirus, economic crisis, need for a new audiovisual law,” says Fabiano Gullane, one of Brazil’s biggest film-tv producers. The shingle has drama “Paloma,” from Marcelo Gomes, on tap.
“I fear for the future of medium-sized and small companies in Brazil,” he says. “They are near 100% dependent on [federal film agency] Ancine, [and] may well not have the cash-flow to survive the crisis.”
Adds producer Rodrigo Teixeira: “If we don’t have access to subsidies, production will stop, not only because of the pandemic but also the way Brazilian film financing is structured.”
The double crisis will push Brazilian companies into producing for TV as well as Brazil’s digital platforms.
Last October,...
- 5/11/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
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