Venice’s ‘Manas,’ Backed by Salles, Dardenne Brothers, Debuts Trailer

The trailer for Marianna Brennand’s “Manas” has been launched, marking its world premiere in Venice Days, a sidebar to the Venice Film Festival. Bendita Film Sales is handling global sales for the feature.

The narrative unfolds on the island of Marajó, nestled in the Amazon rainforest. Marcielle, the protagonist, resides near the riverbank with her family, which includes her father, mother, and three siblings. Influenced by her mother’s words, Marcielle admires her older sister, who supposedly improved her life by marrying a man she met on one of the commercial barges that traverse the region.

As Marcielle matures, her idealized view crumbles, revealing her entrapment in two different yet equally abusive environments. Her increasing concern for her younger sister, coupled with the grim future they both face, spurs Marcielle to confront the oppressive system dictating their family and the broader community of women.

Luis Renart of Bendita Film Sales remarked, “‘Manas’ is a haunting experience. Marianna Brennand has crafted a delicate and absorbing feature debut, directed with wisdom and strength rarely seen in a first-time filmmaker. We are confident it will deeply surprise and move distributors and programmers worldwide.”

Filmmaker Walter Salles, an associate producer on the project, added, “Marianna Brennand’s ‘Manas’ is a brilliant first feature film. The narrative is both sensorial and emotional, the performances gripping, and the direction inspired and precise, devoid of sentimentalism. Marianna offers us a glimpse into a world unfamiliar to most, shedding light on its inner demons. It’s a remarkable debut from a highly talented director.”

Brennand explained in a statement, “During research for a documentary in remote Amazon rainforest villages, I encountered women who had suffered immense trauma from a young age. They faced sexual abuse within their homes and were exploited on commercial barges, with little chance to escape their circumstances. Sadly, many women globally can recount experiences of abuse, whether sexual, moral, or psychological, leaving deep scars and traumas.”

“The Me Too and other women’s rights movements have empowered us to speak out against abusers worldwide. But what about these invisible women whose existence we remain unaware of? Through ‘Manas,’ I aim to amplify the voices of these women and girls, honoring the stories they courageously shared with me. I view cinema as a powerful tool for social and political change and hope ‘Manas’ will evoke empathy in viewers, breaking the taboo around this harsh reality that affects many women.”

The screenplay for “Manas” is the collaborative work of Felipe Sholl, Marcelo Grabowsky, Brennand, Antonia Pellegrino, Camila Agustini, and Carolina Benevides.

The film features a talented cast, led by Jamilli Correa (Marcielle), Fátima Macedo (Danielle), Rômulo Braga (Marcílio), Dira Paes (Aretha), Emily Pantoja (Carol), Samira Eloá (Cynthia), Gabriel Rodrigues (Danilio), and Enzo Maia (Marcéu).

The leading production company behind “Manas” is Inquietude. The project is a co-production involving Globo Filmes, Canal Brasil, Pródigo, and Fado Filmes.

Producers for the film include Benevides and Brennand, while Benevides and Marcelo Maximo serve as executive producers.

Associate producers contributing to the project are Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne of Les Films du Fleuve, Delphine Tomson, Dominique Welinski, Marcelo Pedrazzi, Braulio Mantovani, Sholl, Grabowsky, Maximo, Salles from VideoFilmes, and Maria Carlota Bruno.

The film received support from Ancine, FSA-BRDE, and República Portuguesa Cultura – ICA.

Source: Variety