Tropical Alien spoke with director André Antônio about “Salomé” (2024), a film that won eight awards at the 57th Brasília Film Festival, including best film from both popular and official juries. The feature follows Cecília, a young model who returns to Recife to spend Christmas with her mother and reconnects with João, a childhood neighbor who introduces her to a mysterious green substance, leading her into a world of obsession and mystery involving a secret cult.
In the interview, André Antônio discusses his investigation of desire and lust through an aesthetic that deforms the image with neon colors and purposeful artificiality. The director explains how he created a dialectic between the authenticity of relationships – inspired by personal experiences, including his own family – and an extremely stylized visual universe, referencing American film noir and art deco iconography associated with the biblical figure of Salome.
The filmmaker also reflects on the difficulties of raising funds for experimental films in Brazil and defends artistic singularity as a way to create powerful dialogues with audiences, even when going against formulas established by the festival circuit. Shot in four weeks with a limited budget, “Salomé” represents what André calls a cinema of investigating personal mysteries.
Credits – Salomé
Screenplay: André Antônio
Production: Dora Amorim, Júlia Machado, Thaís Vidal
Production Companies: Ponte Produtoras, Surto & Deslumbramento
Cast: Aura do Nascimento, Fellipy Sizernando, Renata Carvalho, Zuba Neves, Clara Maria Matos, Danny Barbosa, Everaldo Pontes, Geyson Luiz
Director of Photography: Linga Acácio
Editing: Chico Lacerda
Production Design: Maíra Mesquita
Costume Design: Libra Lima
Make Up: Ana Simiema
Original Score: Mateus Alves, Piero Bianchi
Sound: Lucas Caminha, Nicolau Domingues
Running Time: 118 minutes
Country: Brazil
Year: 2024
