Athens International Film Festival
aiff

THE FIRST DEATH OF JOANA / A PRIMEIRA MORTE DE JOANA


South Brazil in the summer. Thirteen-year-old Joana bids a beloved relative farewell. Her first experience of sadness is accompanied by an unanswered enigma: is it true that “aunt Rosa” died without ever having been with a man? Along with her best friend, Joana embarks on an investigation into Rosa’s past, realising that, like her, all the women in her family harbour a secret. A brilliant coming-of-age film, which touches on various aspects of the psychological makeup of teenagers through the life and secrets of others, through loss and friendship, exalting sexuality which is always unexpectedly awakened.


BRAZIL | 2021 | COLOR | DCP | 94’ | PORTUGUESE, GERMAN

South Brazil, summer of 2007. 13 year-old Joana, a Brazilian of German origin bids farewell to her beloved aunt, her grandma’s sister. This first grief is accompanied with an unanswered question: is it true that ‘aunt Rosa’ died a virgin? As Joana explores the mystery of another life, her relationship with her best friend becomes complicated due to rumours at school colliding with the conservative small-town mentality.

A wonderful, smooth coming-of-age film, dealing with the teenage psychology through the lives and secrets of others, loss, school, sexuality that announces itself exquisitely in a dreamy magic realism scene, the artistic inclination, the results of immigration, religion, as well as the coexistence of races in the hinterland. Subtle, aware, and bright cinema. I.D.

DIRECTOR: Cristiane Oliveira
SCREENWRITER: Cristiane Oliveira
DoP: Bruno Polidoro
MUSIC: Arthur de Faria, Gustavo Breier
EDITOR: Tula Anagnostopoulos
PRINCIPAL CAST: Letícia Kacperski, Isabela Bressane, Joana Vieira, Lisa Gertum Becker, Emílio Speck, Pedro Nambuco, Rosa Campos Velho, Graciale Caputti

CRISTIANE OLIVEIRA
Brazilian director, screenwriter and producer. This is her second feature film.

FILMOGRAPHY
2021
The First Death of Joana
2016 Nalu on the Border



        : International Competition

        BRUNO REIDAL, CONFESSION OF A MURDERER / BRUNO REIDAL

        BRUNO REIDAL, CONFESSION OF A MURDERER / BRUNO REIDAL

        23/09/2021, 19:15, TRIANON
        27/09/2021, 22:15, RIVIERA

        GREAT FREEDOM / GROSSE FREIHEIT

        GREAT FREEDOM / GROSSE FREIHEIT

        23/09/2021, 21:45, DANAOS
        24/09/2021, 19:30, AEGLI ZAPPION

        LUZZU

        LUZZU

        CRYPTOZOO

        CRYPTOZOO

        24/09/2021, 22:15, RIVIERA
        28/09/2021, 19:30, TRIANON

        HIT THE ROAD / JADDEH KHAKI

        HIT THE ROAD / JADDEH KHAKI

        25/09/2021, 22:15, AEGLI ZAPPION
        28/09/2021, 22:15, STELLA

        HUMAN FACTORS

        HUMAN FACTORS

        26/09/2021, 21:45, DANAOS
        28/09/2021, 22:15, GREEK FILM ARCHIVE

        LAMB / DÝRIÐ

        LAMB / DÝRIÐ

        27/09/2021, 20:00, STELLA
        1/10/2021, 22:30, STELLA

        PEBBLES / KOOZHANGAL

        PEBBLES / KOOZHANGAL

        27/09/2021, 22:30, TRIANON
        30/09/2021, 22:30, GREEK FILM ARCHIVE

        A BALANCE / YUKO NO TENBIN

        A BALANCE / YUKO NO TENBIN

        28/09/2021, 20:30, DANAOS
        1/10/2021, 22:15, RIVIERA

        LIBERTAD

        LIBERTAD

        29/09/2021, 19:45, RIVIERA
        1/10/2021, 22:15, FLERRY CINEMA

        THE SACRED SPIRIT / ESPÍRITU SAGRADO

        THE SACRED SPIRIT / ESPÍRITU SAGRADO

        29/09/2021, 22:15, RIVIERA
        2/10/2021, 22:00, FLERRY CINEMA

        AZOR

        AZOR

        30/09/2021, 19:00, IDEAL
        1/10/2021, 19:30, FLERRY CINEMA

        PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN / NOCHE DE FUEGO

        PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN / NOCHE DE FUEGO

        30/09/2021, 22:00, DANAOS
        1/10/2021, 19:30, RIVIERA

        AWARD-WINNING FILM SCREENING

        AWARD-WINNING FILM SCREENING

        3/10/21, 21:30, FLERRY CINEMA