Manas Exclusive Trailer: Brazilian Debut That Won at Venice Is Set to Arrive This May

      With the impressive support of executive producers Sean Penn, Walter Salles, and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Marianna Brennand's debut feature, Manas, was awarded the best director prize at Venice Days last fall. Ahead of its theatrical release starting on May 22 at NYC's Film Forum, we are excited to exclusively present the U.S. trailer for this Brazilian drama, provided by KimStim.

      Here’s the synopsis: “On the Amazon rainforest island of Marajó, 13-year-old Tielle resides in a secluded riverside community with her family. She looks up to her older sister, who left the area with 'a good man' (according to their mother) on one of the commercial river barges. However, as Tielle matures and discovers the true cost of her sister's departure, she becomes concerned for her younger sister's safety and decides to confront the ingrained abuse of women and girls in her society. Filmmaker Brennand, who dedicated a decade to researching the Indigenous tribes of the Amazon, grounded this debut in real stories to create a poignant and impactful depiction of resilience against cycles of oppression.”

      Sean Penn remarked last fall, “In the tradition last exemplified by Walter Salles’s I’m Still Here, Marianna Brennand’s film Manas carries on Brazil’s most lasting cinematic legacy. These are films with powerful social relevance that avoid polemics or sensationalism, instead building a deep trust in their characters’ struggles and bravery. Manas is profoundly emotional, moving, and, heaven forbid… significant. It felt as though I needed to regain my own skin after viewing it.”

      Watch the exclusive trailer below.