Civil servant Joana mainly deals with divorce cases. As a member of a branch of evangelical Christians known as the Divino Amor group, she uses her position to offer a kind of physical therapy to couples who want to separate: Exploring sexuality with the aim of reconciling quarrelling couples. Although Joana and Danilo regularly consummate their marriage, neither Joana’s constant prayers nor any other methods of assistance seem to be able to fulfil their desire for a child. But then a miracle finally happens.
“I tried to make a movie to think about a near future and to speculate about a political context where there is a very specific type of biopolitical control of the body. Instead of having a character who wants to fight against religion – like in The Handmaid’s Tale – I wanted a character that wants even more religion in her life. She wants things to be even more conservative and wants the church to have more power over the state. This is a film about the body and the state. I wanted to think about a new regime of pleasure and violence in the body, which in its very own way connects eroticism to power.” (Gabriel Mascaro)
Gabriel Mascaro
Born in 1983 in Recife, Brazil. A director, screenwriter and visual artist who first became known for his documentary work and video installations. His debut feature, August Winds, as well as his other films won awards at various festivals. In 2016, the first retrospective of his work was held at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York.
