Aquarius

Tuesday 24 October at 7pm
The Elizabeth Picture Theatre

Aquarius, Kleber Mendonça Filho, 2016, 146m
Clara, a 65-year-old widow and retired music critic, was born into a wealthy and traditional family in Recife, Brazil. She is the last resident of the Aquarius, an original two-story building, built in the 1940s, in the upper-class, seaside Boa Viagem Avenue. All the neighbouring apartments have already been acquired by a company which has other plans for that plot.
Kleber Mendonça Filho deliberately links Sônia Braga, a legend of Brazilian cinema and who plays Clara, with the threatened Aquarius building. Braga’s long and determined history suggesting a similar rich history for Aquarius (and all other condemned buildings.) In one of her great late career performances, Braga brings detail and purpose to an otherwise unblinking decision to remain in Aquarius even as a series of social forces, developer or neighbour, plot to force her out.

“A performance of tremendous wit, vitality and lusty defiance by Sônia Braga drives Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho’s remarkable second feature.” The Guardian

R18+
With thanks to Rialto
Facebook Event

Part of our gradual Kleber Mendonça Filho retrospective.

Attendance:
As with all our Container screenings, admission is free to all members, and membership can be found at our website container.org.au or at the box office counter on the night. Membership ranges from $30 (six months concession) to $100 (annual regular).