Mozambique, 1969. What was meant to be a peaceful Christmas Eve ends up badly as a group of soldiers brings home a prisoner that will be murdered. Simultaneously, the Capitan's wife arrives in surprise, bringing along a Priest, who is supposed to celebrate the mass.
Direction
Leitão traps you in a room with monsters wearing uniforms.
Acting
Carvalho's Capitão: charm curdling into cowardice.
Cinematography
Candlelit violence that refuses to look away.
Director
Joaquim Leitão
Marco D'Almeida
Alferes Gaio
Adriano Carvalho
Capitão
Carla Chambel
Esperança
Maya Booth
Leonor
Ivo Canelas
Médico
Nuno Nunes
Capelão
Pedro Varela
Viegas
Cândido Ferreira
Sargento Ferreirinha
Júlio César
Tenente Coronel
Quimbé
Cabo VCC
Lourenço Henriques
Montemor-o-Velho
Nuno Gil
Alferes Pizarro
Marco Paiva
Montemor-o-Novo
Dinarte de Freitas
Larga Larga
João Baptista
Passebite
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
One of few Portuguese films confronting colonial crimes in Mozambique; virtually unknown outside Portugal.
The entire film unfolds in real-time across one night, mirroring the theatrical structure of moral reckoning.
PT
