Filmstelle

Years after leaving his family, André receives an unexpected visit from his brother Pedro. At their mother’s request, his brother begs him to return home. As André recounts the reasons that led him to leave, fragmented memories of the past resurface and reveal a troubled history with his family: the tender but suffocating bond with his mother, the oppressive tyranny of his father who ruled their home like a monastery, and the incestuous feelings he developed for his sister Ana.

With Lavoura Arcaica, director Luiz Fernando Carvalho signed off on one of the most acclaimed movies in Brazilian cinema. Based on the novel of the same name, the film reads like a classical tragedy set in the rural landscape of Brazil. Centered around a family of Lebanese descent, it explores the tension between tradition and desire, as André’s growing pursuit of pleasure and freedom clashes with his father’s values, exposing the cracks in the family’s unity. With its lyrical writing and striking cinematography, Lavoura Arcaica is a film rich in symbolism, intense in emotion, and a visually stunning experience that leaves a memorable impression.

Deniz Imir

Content notes: Incest, abuse