Chatuba, Mesquita, the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.

Dé, a stocky and endearingly awkward young man, cares for his grandmother with profound dedication.

He is a youth whose life seems to teeter between the past and an uncertain future. His only anchor is the elderly woman herself—a beloved but now vulnerable figure, consumed by the fog of Alzheimer’s. Amid economic struggles and social abandonment, Dé undergoes a moment of transformation, seeking meaning in a reality that seems to deny him any opportunity. With the support of his inseparable friends, Adrianim and Martins, he strives to seize every possible moment with his grandmother, creating memories to offset the fear of a solitary tomorrow.

The relationship between Dé and his grandmother forms the emotional core of the narrative: a bond encapsulating universal themes of belonging, loss, and resilience. Abandoned by his father during childhood, Dé finds himself trapped in a daily life that forces him to choose between mere survival and truly living. The metaphor of the passing train, a constant in his life, represents both the fleeting nature of time and his desire to grasp a deeper meaning beyond the monotony of existence.

“Kasa Branca” emerges as a cinematic meditation on existence, weaving the threads of the human condition with the fabric of emotional connections and daily struggles. Presented at the Festival do Rio 2024, this feature film, directed and written by Luciano Vidigal, delicately explores the complexities of life, shedding light on the dynamics of resilience, hope, and emotional roots. Through straightforward yet emotionally rich storytelling, the film immerses us in the lives of three friends, revealing their challenges, dreams, and search for meaning.

While addressing social and political issues such as the precariousness of the healthcare system, institutional injustices, and the lack of public support, the film avoids being merely a critique. Instead, these elements serve as a backdrop for a broader reflection on the human condition: How can one find light in a world that seems to dim every possibility, offering only precarious survival in the present? Vidigal’s response, formally simple and imperfect, lies in solidarity, the strength of human connections, and the courage to face the unknown with determination, against all odds.

Premiering at the Festival do Rio 2024, “Kasa Branca” is more than a story—it is a visual meditation on the passage of time and the ability to find beauty even in suffering. Its strength lies in simple gestures, moments of shared connection that bind the characters, and the persistent effort to resist, however fragile. Vidigal transforms an intimate story into a collective reflection, inviting viewers to feel, laugh, and engage through independent cinema that portrays a naïve, precarious, fragile, and invisible world.

27-Nov-2024 by Beatrice