Beyond Marão

José Fernandes / Portugal / 2014 / 7 min.

synopsis

This surreal journey through a desolate mountain village, where an unknown danger hangs over the last surviving inhabitants, combines contemplative static shots of nature and animals taken from unusual angles, which are fascinating, yet, at the same time, raise uncertainty as to whether the mysterious landscape can be logically understood.

DETAIL:
We observe a silent mist-filled forest from whose depths an unrecognisable figure slowly emerges. As it comes nearer, we sense that it is not human, but rather an apparition embodying the incomprehensible magical nature of the location.

biography

Portuguese director José Manuel Fernandes has thus far made two films. The first is the mid-length Wakasa (2011), which reconstructs the legend of the love between a Japanese princess and a Portuguese conqueror. The second is Beyond Marão. Both poetic documentaries have been screened at various locations, including the IndieLisboa Festival, where Beyond Marão received a Special Mention in the Best Portuguese Documentary Film category.