Synopsis
Clara, a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana as the nanny of her unborn child. The two women develop a strong bond, but a fateful night changes their plans.
Where to watch Good Manners
Director duo Juliana Rojas (Necropolis Symphony, 2014) and Marcos Dutra (When I Was Alive, 2014) blend genres (from horror to coming of age) to tell a story about motherhood and affective relationships.
A collaboration between Brazil and France, the film manages to approach a well-known character in the collective imagination from a fresh perspective. The story is told from the female point of view, adding relevant themes such as racial prejudice.
A particular highlight is the combination of special effects techniques, including matte painting, VFX and practical effects for the different stages of the Werewolf boy’s gestation.
The film finds identity in the elements it uses to build the character’s mythology, such as the choice made by the adoptive mother in the story to raise the child as a vegetarian. At the same time, it is anchored in concrete concerns and anxieties that add dimension to the work. By combining a very tangible reality with a folkloric metaphor, it is precisely in this magical realism that the film feels at home and flourishes.
Why we recommend it
The movie not only brings a fresh perspective to a folkloric character who has appeared in several audiovisual productions, but also places him in a tangible reality, anchored in relevant themes such as motherhood and racial prejudice.
Credits
- Original title: As Boas Maneiras
- Rating: 14
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
- Runtime: 2h 15 min
- Release year: 2017
- Country: Brazil / France / Germany
- Production companies: Dezenove Som e Imagem / Urban Factory / Globo Filmes / Good Fortune Filmes
- Distributor: Imovision
- Director: Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra
- Producer: Maria Ionescu, Sara Silveira, Clément Duboin, Frédéric Corvez
- Writer: Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra
- Cast: Isabél Zuaa, Marjorie Estiano, Miguel Lobo, Cida Moreira, Andrea Marquee, Gilda Nomacce, Eduardo Gomes, Hugo Villavicenzio
- Casting: Alice Wolfenson
- Cinematography: Rui Poças
- Production design: Fernando Zuccolotto
- Costume design: Kiki Orona
- Makeup department: Rosemary Paiva
- Sound design: Bernardo Uzeda
- Soundtrack: Guilherme Garbato, Gustavo Garbato
- Editing: Caetano Gotardo
