Madness

A young woman lives in a psychiatric facility in Mozambique. She misses her son. The personnel there lie to her, claiming that her son is not around when he’s really waiting for her. The woman refuses to believe them and won’t be deterred, escaping the clinic at the next opportunity. Symbolic actions mark her search. João Viana’s cinema is characterised by a very idiosyncratic visual style – unconcerned with a naturalistic representation of reality, he treats the screen as a stage. (Berlinale)