Banzo (film)
| Banzo | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Margarida Cardoso |
| Written by | Margarida Cardoso |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Leandro Ferrão |
| Edited by | Pedro Filipe Marques |
| Music by | Rutger Zuydervelt |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Uma Pedra no Sapato |
Release dates |
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Running time | 127 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Portuguese |
| Box office | US$9,788[1] |
Banzo is a 2024 Portuguese-language drama film written and directed by Margarida Cardoso. Starring Carloto Cotta as Dr. Alfonso Paivaand and Hoji Fortuna as Alphonse, the film presents the legacy of Portuguese colonialism in Africa, revisiting memories and historical scars.[2][3]
It premiered in National Competition at the IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival on 28 May 2024, where it won Universities Culturgest Award for the Best Portuguese Feature Film and Árvore da Vida Award (Tree of Life Award).[4]
It was selected as the Portuguese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[5][6]
Synopsis
Set in 1907, the film follows Afonso, a doctor who arrives on a tropical African island to begin a new chapter as a plantation physician. Tasked with treating a group of servants afflicted by Banzo (melancholy)—a profound melancholy rooted in the legacy of slavery, he witnesses the devastating toll of the condition, as many succumb to starvation or suicide. In an effort to contain the illness, the servants are relocated to a remote, rain-soaked hillside surrounded by forest. Despite Afonso's medical efforts, his inability to grasp the emotional and spiritual depth of their suffering renders his treatments ineffective.
Cast
- Carloto Cotta as Dr. Alfonso Paiva
- Hoji Fortuna as Alphonse
- João Pedro Bénard as Dr. Figueira
- Gonçalo Waddington as Raimundo
- Sara Carinhas as Luísa
- Ruben Simões as Ismael
- Maria Do Céu Ribeiro as Adelia
- Matamba Joaquim as Maianço
- Romeu Runa as Augusto
- Cirila Bossuet as Guilhermina
Production
In June 2021, Eurimages decided to support the film with €250,000.[7]
The film set in 1907 was filmed in Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe.[8]
Release
Banzo had its world premiere at IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival on 28 May 2024. It competed for Crystal Globe with other eleven feature films at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 4 July 2024.[9][10]
The film selected in Official Selection at the Seville European Film Festival was screened in November 2024.[11]
It was released in French theaters on 25 December 2024.[12]
Reception
On the AlloCiné, which lists 5 press reviews, the film obtained an average rating of 3.6/5.[13]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival | Universities Culturgest Award | Banzo | Won | [14] |
| Árvore da Vida Award | Won | ||||
| Grand Prize City of Lisbon | Nominated | ||||
| 2024 | Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | Crystal Globe Grand Prix | Nominated | [15] | |
| 2024 | Camerimage | Golden Frog | Nominated | [16][17] | |
| 2024 | Caminhos do Cinema Português | Best Screenplay | Margarida Cardoso | Won | [18] |
| 2025 | Prémios AIP Cinema Awards | Best Cinematography in a Feature Film | Leandro Ferrão | Won | [19] |
| 2025 | Golden Globes (Portugal) | Best Film | Banzo | Nominated | [20] |
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Portuguese submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ "Banzo". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ Will Tizard (6 July 2025). "Karlovy Vary Competitor 'Banzo' Brings the Deadly Heartbreak of Colonialism to the Screen". Variety. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Cardoso, Margarida (5 July 2024). "Banzo". Cineuropa. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Banzo". IndieLisboa. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ ""Banzo" é o candidato de Portugal aos Óscares para melhor Filme Internacional" ["Banzo" is Portugal's Oscar nominee for Best International Film]. Radio and Television of Portugal (in Portuguese). 12 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ González, David (29 June 2021). "Eurimages supports 49 co-productions". Cineuropa. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Santos, Catia (13 September 2025). ""Banzo" é o filme português candidato aos Óscares 2026" [“Banzo” is the Portuguese film nominated for the 2026 Oscars]. Cinema Sétima Arte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Banzo". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Tim Dams (28 May 2024). "Karlovy Vary Film Festival unveils 2024 official selection". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Rivera, Alfonso (5 November 2024). "Seville hosts a bumper edition of its European film festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Banzo: 25 décembre 2024 en salle" [Banzo: 25 December 2024 in theaters]. AlloCiné (in French). 25 December 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Banzo". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "IndieLisboa Award 2024". IndieLisboa. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Leo Barraclough (28 May 2024). "Karlovy Vary Film Festival Lineup Includes 15 Directorial Debuts, Plus Films by Established Filmmakers". Variety. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Banzo". Camerimage. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Conematographers' Debuts Competition 2024 Lineup!". Camerimage. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Resende, Tiago (25 November 2024). "Caminhos do Cinema Português 2024: "Sempre", de Luciana Fina, vence o Grande Prémio" [Paths of Portuguese Cinema 2024: “Sempre”, by Luciana Fina, wins the Grand Prize]. Cinema Sétima Arte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Nomeados vencedor para Melhor Direção de Fotografia" [Nominees and winners for Best Cinematography]. Prémios AIP Cinema (in Portuguese). 22 March 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Globos de Ouro: conheça todos os nomeados" [Golden Globes: Meet all the nominees]. Globos de Ouro (in Portuguese). 22 July 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.