Cattle Callers

Colour, 35 mm
Brazil, 2005, 72 min
EP – European premiere
Section: Documentary Films in Competition

Synopsis

In amongst the dry shrub vegetation known as caatinga in north-eastern Brazil live a group of people who respect time-honoured customs, the most remarkable of which is to drive cattle while singing melancholic songs known as aboios. The unusual melodies coming from these distinctive representatives of the cowboy trade have a favourable influence on the cattle, which then obediently follow the drovers on their many days’ journey. This feature debut by the talented Brazilian documentary filmmaker brings a powerful evocation of one of the most unusual communities on the South American continent. Her unmistakable style of direction relies on an experimental approach to image and sound, thus helping to create the dream-like atmosphere which surrounds this group of people, seemingly apparitions from ancient times.

About the director

Marília Rocha (b. 1978, Brazil) studied social communications and is currently completing her dissertation on film at the UFMG (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais). She has made eleven short films and videos since 1999, of which several won awards both at home and abroad. She is a member of the group Teia (established in Belo Horizonte in Brazil in 2002), focused on audiovisual research. Her feature debut Cattle Callers won Best Documentary at the Brazilian international festival of documentary films It’s All True.