Huelva Festival Awards: ‘Portrait of a Certain Orient,’ ‘Manas’ Triumph as Brazilian Movie Renaissance Builds

variety.com:

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Two Brazilian titles, Marcelo Gomes’ “Portrait of a Certain Orient” and Marianne Brennand’s “Manas,” swept the three biggest awards at Spain’s Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival, which wrapped Saturday night in the Southern Spanish city.

With Brazil’s Marcelo Caetano scooping a fourth trophy of a total seven on offer for competition titles, Huelva served to confirm the building renaissance of Brazilian cinema, already seen in Karim Aïnouz making Cannes main Competition cut two years running – with “Firebrand” and “Motel Destino” – and Walter Salles’ comeback and Brazilian Academy Award entry “I’m Still Here’s” reaping a rave review and reporting in Variety and other media, prompting Oscar buzz. “Portrait of a Certain Orient,” Marcelo Gomes, Brazil, Italy: Golden Columbus, Best Picture Shot in black-and-white and a 4:3 box format, “Portrait,” which took Huelva’s Best Picture Golden Columbus, tells a tender, lamenting parable of the tragedy of bigotry and patriarchy, as Emir, a Lebanese Catholic, bound on a ship to Brazil in the 1940s, neurotically opposes sister Emilie’s courtship by an engaging Muslim emigré, Omar.

When the trio reach Amazon port city Manaus and Emilie sets her heart on marrying Omar, Emir attempts a tragic vengeance. Sold by O2 Play and lead produced by Mariana Ferraz at Rio de Janeiro-based Matizar Filmes in co-production with Italy’s Kavac Film and Brazil’s Gullane, Muiraquitã Filmes, Misti Filmes and Globo Filmes,“Portrait” returns Gomes to the set-up his debut feature, Cannes 2005 Un Certain Regard breakout “Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures” – of viewing Brazil through the eyes of foreigners. “In my film, I try to show that the only way to deconstruct.