TIFF Picks 09: Suzana Amaral’s Hotel Atlantico

Date:

#9. HOTEL ATLANTICO

Director: Suzana Amaral
Cast: Júlio Andrade, João Miguel, Mariana Ximenes, Gero Camilo, Marcia Martins, Helena Ignez, Luis Guilherme
Distributor: Rights Available.

Buzz: Amaral might be considered the Terrence Malick of Brazil – not for her style, but her total output of films. Born in 1932, she first came onto the scene with The Hour of the Star in 86′, and Hotel Atlantico is only her third feature film. TIFF’s Latin film programmer Diana Sanchez mentions that there is “a palpable Lynchian aura to the film, with a vaguely defined threat seeping through the scenes. At the same time, the narrative and the performers are going with the flow, exuding a “living in the moment” energy that may be due to Amaral’s Buddhist beliefs.” In general, I’m a fan of “drifter” films (e.g. Antonioni’s The Passenger) and I’m sold on the trailer – which you can check out below.

The Gist: Enigmatic and perturbing, Suzana Amaral’s Hotel Atlântico takes us on a mysterious journey through Brazil’s southern landscapes. The film follows an unnamed actor as he wanders into new experiences, living life in the moment. 

 

TIFF Schedule: Click here for times.

 
Eric Lavallée
Eric Lavalléehttps://www.ericlavallee.com
Eric Lavallée is the founder, CEO, editor-in-chief, film journalist, and critic at IONCINEMA.com, established in 2000. A regular at Sundance, Cannes, and Venice, Eric holds a BFA in film studies from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 2013, he served on the narrative competition jury at the SXSW Film Festival. He was an associate producer on Mark Jackson’s "This Teacher" (2018 LA Film Festival, 2018 BFI London). He is a Golden Globes Voter, member of the ICS (International Cinephile Society) and AQCC (Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma).

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