North American Premiere
In this clever metaphysical psychodrama, a grieving writer– tormented by the protagonist of her novel, who has come to life– revisits the story she has written. We see the protagonist await trial for a serious crime. Four women are interrogated as his character witnesses: his ex-wife, who supported him with funds stolen from her new husband; his landlady, who would turn a blind eye to his dishonesty, when convenient; his emotionally detached mother, who feels that only God can judge him; and a pretty woman, pregnant with his child.
The circumstances leading up to the protagonist’s crime are gradually revealed: a lonesome lifestyle steeped in falsehoods; a pathological fixation on a beautiful woman at the beach; and a romance founded in delusion. Years after the ink has dried, the novelist must grapple with the sinister intent of a creation that has spun out of her control. Bolstered by psychologically rich narration adapted from the eponymous novel by Dulce Maria Cardoso, Field of Blood blurs the lines between story and story-within-story to thrilling effect.
Carloto Cotta, Luísa Cruz, Sara Carinhas, Teresa Madruga, Fernanda Neves, Suzana Borges
Portugal
2022
In Portuguese with English subtitles
Graphic Violence
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Vivaldi and Me
Venice, 1716. Composer Antonio Vivaldi teaches at an orphanage for abandoned girls, and establishes a deep rapport with violinist Cecelia — but their collaboration is threatened by her impending arranged marriage.
Camp
Reeling from two devastating tragedies, Emily (Zola Grimmer) takes refuge at a summer camp for troubled youth, where she has been offered a position as counsellor. She finds friendship, but also something more unexpected, something truly troubling...
Rose of Nevada
This disconcerting film from the director of Bait and Enys Men feels like a message from another era: two men sign on to a Cornish fishing trawler, but when they return to port they are welcomed into the community 30 years before they left...
Three Colours: Red
Irène Jacob plays Valentine, a runway model living in Geneva, who crosses paths with a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who's a bit of an eavesdropper. Initially repelled, she becomes intrigued by this man, as do we... Kieslowski's sublime adieu.
Whispers in the Woods
A luxuriant, healing immersion in nature with ravishing wildlife photography, this is the cinematic equivalent of "forest bathing," a trip deep into the Vosges, France, with photographer Vincent Munier (The Velvet Queen), his father and his son.
Credits
Producer
Ana Pinhão Moura
Screenwriter
Luís Mário Lopes, João Mário Grilo, Inês Beleza Barreiros
Cinematography
João Ribeiro
Editor
Roberto Perpignani
Original Music
Mário Laginha
Art Director
Silvia Grabowski
Director
João Mário Grilo
João Mário Grilo was born in 1958 in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. He has directed several films that have been featured in the world’s most prestigious festivals, such as A Estrangeira (1982), which was in competition at the Venice Film Festival; O Processo do Rei (1989), which screened at the Berlinale and the Toronto International Film Festival; O Fim do mundo (1993), which was selected at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section; Os Olhos da Ásia (1996), which screened at Locarno Film Festival and VIFF; and Longe da Vista (1998), which screened in competition at Venice Film Festival.
Filmography: A Falha (2002); Two Women (2009); Escrita Íntima (2017); Vieirarpad (2021)