Infantaria

Infantry
In opulent, lush scenery, a birthday party is being held. Joana longs for her first period, her brother Dudu yearns for his absent father, while Verbena is defiantly looking for a way out. In this magical realist glimpse from the swampy, conservative northeast of Brazil, Laís Santos Araújo negotiates female solidarity in a patriarchal society. It seems that fulfilling your dreams is possible, but it might not come without pain.
by Laís Santos Araújo
with Ana Luiza Ferreira, Karolayne Rayssa, Francisco Nunes, Ane Oliva
Brazil 2022 Portuguese 24’ Colour International premiere recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Ana Luiza Ferreira (Joana)
  • Karolayne Rayssa (Verbena)
  • Francisco Nunes (Dudu)
  • Ane Oliva (Ludmilla)

Crew

Director Laís Santos Araújo
Screenplay Laís Santos Araújo
Cinematography Wilssa Esser
Editing Laís Santos Araújo
Sound Design Pedro Macedo
Sound Leo Bulhões
Production Design Lyara Calvacanti
Costumes Lyara Calvacanti
Make-Up Samara Kyrlley
Casting Laís Santos Araújo
Assistant Directors Pethrus Tiburcio, Maysa Reis
Production Managers Pedro Krull, Bibi Soares
Producer Pedro Krull
Executive Producers Laís Santos Araújo, Pedro Krull
Co-Production Estranha Força Maceió

Laís Santos Araújo

Born in Maceió, Brazil in 1993, her first short fiction film Sometimes We’re the Same Height premiered at the 2020 International Film Festival Rotterdam. As a screenwriter and director, she has also made experimental films and documentary shorts. The script development for her debut feature film, scheduled to be shot in 2023, has been supported by organisations including the Hubert Bals Fund. Infantaria won the Grand Prix at the Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival.

Filmography (short films)

2015 Cidade líquida; documentary 2019 Como ficamos da mesma altura (Sometimes We’re the Same Height) 2022 Infantaria (Infantry)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023