This Side of Resurrection

Release and reception

The film had its world premiere in the official selection of the 2011 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, as part of the Visions programme. The film was also present at the official selection of the 2011 edition of the São Paulo International Film Festival. The United States premiere was at the Harvard Film Archive, followed by its presence at the Anthology Film Archives as part of The School of Reis program.

This Side of Resurrection was considered by the Film Comment magazine one of the best films of 2011 in its annual list.

Plot

The film tells the story of a sister and a brother, Inês and Rafael. Since the divorce of their parents, their family never saw Rafael again. Inês runs away from home looking for him when she is told he is back at the Guincho Beach and surfing again. Rafael is an ex-surf champion who everyday gets himself inside the most dangerous waves to test the limits of his life. When the two siblings meet, Guincho makes them come together in a promise of paradise on earth, as it was the last place where their family lived together and in happiness. But Inês is surprised one day when she finds her brother looking fixedly to the Serra de Sintra mountain range, where the Convent of the Capuchos was once his refuge. She fears having brought back to him the memories of the separation of their parents. Rafael is in a crisis of faith. When one day he disappears, Inês knows he went back to the convent, and she starts doing what she can to bring him back to her.

Cast