Manas Exclusive Trailer: Brazilian Debut That Won at Venice to Release This May

      With the strong support of executive producers Sean Penn, Walter Salles, and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Marianna Brennand’s debut feature, Manas, won the best director award at Venice Days last fall. As it prepares for a theatrical release starting May 22 at NYC’s Film Forum, we are excited to exclusively unveil the U.S. trailer for this Brazilian drama, provided by KimStim.

      Here’s the summary: “On the Amazon rainforest island of Marajó, 13-year-old Tielle lives in a secluded riverside community with her family. She looks up to her older sister, who left the area with ‘a good man’ (as described by their mother) aboard a commercial river barge. However, as Tielle matures and discovers the true cost of her sister's departure, she becomes concerned for the safety of her younger sibling and decides to confront the entrenched abuse faced by women and girls in her community. Filmmaker Brennand, who dedicated a decade to studying Indigenous tribes of the Amazon, crafted this debut feature based on real stories, creating a poignant and compelling depiction of resilience that breaks the cycle of abuse.”

      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 profound cinematic legacy. These films possess striking social relevance without resorting to polemics or sensationalism, instead faithfully portraying the struggles and bravery of their characters. Manas is profoundly emotional, powerful, and, God forbid… significant. I felt as though I had to put my skin back on after watching it.”

      Watch the exclusive trailer below.