INTERVIEW: MARCO DUTRA (BURY YOUR DEAD, 2024)

Tropical Alien talked with director Marco Dutra about “Bury Your Dead” (2024), an adaptation of the first book in Ana Paula Maia’s trilogy. The film follows Edgar (Selton Mello), responsible for removing roadkill carcasses in Abalurdes, a fictional small town. His work partner is Tomás (Danilo Grangheia), an excommunicated ex-priest who performs last rites for accident victims on the road.

In the interview, Dutra discusses writing about death during the pandemic and how Ana Paula Maia’s literary universe provided the foundation for creating a Brazilian language of cosmic horror. The director details Selton Mello’s physical performance as Edgar and the dynamics between the main characters. Dutra also addresses his collaboration with Ana Paula Cardoso on production design and Rui Poças on cinematography to build striking images, while reflecting on Lovecraft and questions that challenge human understanding. The film has been available on Globoplay since October 2024.

Credits – Bury Your Dead

Leandro Reis