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Ash Wednesday

Perspektive Deutsches Kino
© Kleber Nascimento
It is the last day of the big carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro. Demétria, a single mother, is waiting for her daughter Cora in a favela. But instead of Cora, various men arrive: a priest, the governor and a policeman. A brutal police raid is underway, allegedly because of drug dealing. The police contemptuously call the inhabitants of the neighbourhood “favelados” and “slumdogs” and the military shoots even at unarmed children. Meanwhile, Demétria and the women around her desperately try to save their daughters and sons. Structural racism and social conflicts that have been smouldering in Brazil for decades are at the heart of this all-singing, all-dancing musical short that is brought to life with the help of rhythmic drumming and other Brazilian sounds. Directors João Pedro Prado and Bárbara Santos recreated an authentic favela setting for their drama filmed at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf which features top-notch performances from their cast.
by João Pedro Prado, Bárbara Santos
with Uriara Maciel, Ronni Maciel, Jefferson Preto, João Eduardo Albertini Germany 2023 Portuguese 30’ Colour World premiere

Perspektive Match

On February 22, film composer Ole Wiedekamm will be a guest of the Perspektive Match series of films and talks.

With

  • Uriara Maciel (Demétria)
  • Ronni Maciel (Policeman)
  • Jefferson Preto (Priest)
  • João Eduardo Albertini (Governor)

Crew

DirectorsBárbara Santos, João Pedro Prado
ScreenplayBia Krieger, Bárbara Santos, João Pedro Prado
CinematographyKleber Nascimento
EditingAnton Buzal
MusicOle Wiedekamm
Sound DesignRicardo Severo
SoundRicardo Severo
Production DesignClaudia Valeria Barrantes Sotomayor
CostumesGabriel Carneiro
Make-UpMaite Herrendorf
Assistant DirectorSofia Bolina
Production ManagerMaxine Paatzsch
ProducerVincent Edusei
ProducersSophie Ahrens, Fabian Altenried, Kristof Gerega
Co-ProductionFilmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf

Produced by

Schuldenberg Films

Berlin, Germany

schuldenbergfilms.com schuldenbergfilms.com

Photos

João Pedro Prado

© Vincent-Edusei

Born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1994, he studied audiovisual media at the city’s university, philosophy and film studies at Freie Universität Berlin and is currently taking a master’s degree in directing at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf. His short documentary Oh, wie frei ist Panama? about a Covid-misinformation-spreading influencer screened at several festivals in Germany, France and Switzerland in 2022. Ash Wednesday is his debut feature. He is currently working on his graduation film.

Filmography (selection)

2019 L’ultima spiaggia di Palermo; short film 2020 Patriotas não morrem; short film 2022 Oh, wie frei ist Panama?; short film 2023 Ash Wednesday; co-director: Bárbara Santos

Bárbara Santos

© Christoph-Leucht

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1963. The writer, theatre director, actor and feminist anti-racist activist is artistic coordinator of the Kuringa theatre workshop in Berlin and founder of the Ma(g)dalena International Network: Feminist Theatre of the Oppressed which comprises groups in Latin America, Africa and Europe. She most recently appeared as an actor in The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão by Karim Aïnouz which won the Grand Prix of Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2019. Ash Wednesday is her debut film as a director.

Filmography

2023 Ash Wednesday; co-director: João Pedro Prado

Dates

Kisses and Battles

El secuestro de la novia | Ash Wednesday | Langer Langer Kuss

Tue Feb 21 12:00

Cubix 2

Subtitles: English, German

Screening for press and industry professionals | With accreditation only

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Press & Professionals

Tue Feb 21 19:00

International

Subtitles: English, German

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Wed Feb 22 21:30

Filmtheater am Friedrichshain

Subtitles: English, German

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Thu Feb 23 16:30

Zoo Palast 3

Subtitles: English, German

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Thu Feb 23 16:30

Zoo Palast 4

Subtitles: English, German

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Thu Feb 23 16:30

Zoo Palast 5

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Fri Feb 24 10:00

Cubix 6

Subtitles: English, German

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Sun Feb 26 16:30

Zoo Palast 3

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Sun Feb 26 16:30

Zoo Palast 4

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Sun Feb 26 16:30

Zoo Palast 5

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