In the stifling, oppressive heat of a deeply patriarchal 1950s Brazil, shy, thoughtful Eurídice (Carol Duarte), and her lively, daring sister Guida Gusmão (Julia Stockler) have only each others’ arms in which to find comfort and solace. Prepped for early marriage by their stern working-class father, Guida rebels by running off with her secret lover, leaving Eurídice to fulfill the family’s marital expectations and forego her own dreams of becoming a professional pianist. But as Eurídice settles into unhappy upper-middle-class existence alongside her hapless husband, news of her sister’s surprise return — and violent banishment at the hands of their parents — is kept from her, setting in motion a decades-long search for one another, leading to a powerful late-in-life revelation. This epic, intimate and unforgettable film from writer/director Karim Aïnouz (Madame Satã) also features luminous Brazilian film legend Fernanda Montenegro in an integral supporting role.

Winner: Prix Un Certain Regard, Cannes

In competition for the FIPRESCI Prize and the Ibero-American Award