Viewer discretion is advised as follows: the pacing of this film is exceedingly slow, at times the viewer may feel like a fly on the wall looking at a magnificent painting being drawn. The visual compositions, the soulful music, and the village characters, are a subtle and fascinating study of human nature.
The basic story takes place in a poor remote South American village where the few occupants are all seemingly young octogenarians with one step ambling toward the grave. A young female photographer, Rita, appears out of nowhere with a backpack, and a desire to stay for just a few days. She lands at the doorstep of a old woman, Madalena, who happens to be the town bread baker.
As the story unfolds, Rita slowly transforms the members of the community, and in the end, they leave their mark on her. Without giving away much of the story, there are fascinating layers to this film: the relationship of a young person to a community of aging residents; the use of still photography to explore deeper meanings between life and death; and Rita’s use of both a very old style of camera—a pinhole film camera, and a modern digital camera—that interpret visual meanings in different ways.
Though food, per se, is not the central focus of this film,Found Memories provides a deeply satisfying look at the sheer elegance of simple people living out their lives with grace and humanity.
This film is currently available for viewing (streaming) on Netflix, and probably available through other means including DVD rental and subscription outlets.
Historias que só existem quando lembradas (Found Memories)
US Release Date: 22 March 2012
98 minutes: subtitled in english.
- Cinematography by
Lucio Bonelli - Film Editing by
Marina Meliande - Music by
Lucas Marcier - Directed by
Júlia Murat