Lonely Hearts

Film présenté cette année à Cinélatino

My Name is Baghdad – Découvertes Fiction 2021

Direction
Caru Alves de Souza
Country
Brazil
Original title
Corações Solitários
Scenario
Caru Alves de Souza, Josefina Trotta

Caru Alves de Souza

Director, screenwriter and producer from São Paulo, Brazil. Graduated with a degree in History from the University of São Paulo and decided to change career after taking a script class as a listener at USP Film School. Since 2008 she has been making TV documentaries, short and feature films, as well as documentary and fictional series. Caru is also a member of artists and filmmakers’ collectives Vermelha and casadalapa.

Filmography

– My name is Baghdad, fiction feature film, 2020 70 Berlin International Film Festival (Gran Prix –  Generation 14 Plus) ; Critic’s Week – 42 ; Cairo International Film Festival ; 65, Cork International Film Festival ; Nara International Film Festival – Berlinale Spotlights
– Underage, fiction feature film, 2013 San Sebastián International Film Festival, Rio International Film Festival (Best Feature Film), Biarritz Festival Latin America, Cinelatino – Rencontres de Toulouse
– Family Affair, fiction short film, 2011 35 San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (EUA), Festival International de Films de Femmes de Créteil, Festival de Cinema de Cartagena, Uppsala International Short Film Festival

Note of intent

The film takes place in a decaying pornography movie theater in downtown São Paulo where lonely characters meet, create bonds of friendship and love, and walk on the threshold between reality and fantasy. Filmmakers Luc and Jean Pierre Dardenne frequently talk about the political potential of the encounter with the other as an agent of transformation in an unjust and inhumane society. Through encountering the other, we become ourselves, we become human. I share this reflection and I intend to bring it to the film.

Synopsis

In the midst of a serious economic crisis, Julieta tries to keep her decadent porn movie theater in downtown São Paulo. Devouring books and obsessed with happy endings, Julieta helps everyone who crosses her path, but is unable to help herself. Pressed by a property developer to sell her cinema, she tries to resist in every way and preserve her fertile imagination with the help of her friends.

Visual concept

I want to follow some strategies that I used in my last movie, My Name is Baghdad, such as not working with electrical and grip departments. The camera will inevitably be either operated in hand (with some type of stabiliser or not) or on a tripod, generating a more naturalistic aesthetic. This should be contrasted with the inclusion of non-naturalist elements in the musical scenes and soundtrack. I also want to work with a cast composed of professional and non-professional actors.

Objectives sought in Films in Development

We would like to talk to international co-producers, sales agents, international financing funds and labs.

Shooting planned date

February 2022

Planned shooting location

São Paulo (Brazil)

Budget
503 597,12 Euros
Percentage of funding in place
20%
Project's development phase

Development

Production
Manjericão Filmes
Biographie producteur.ice

As a partner at Manjericão Filmes I produce Brazilian and international films, in addition to being a TV executive producer. The partnership with Caru began when we were still making short films. From there we made her first feature, Underage, which premiered at the San Sebastian Festival and won Best Film at Rio Festival in 2013. Then we developed My Name is Baghdad, Generation 14plus Gran Prix at the 70 Berlinale.