Mal Nascida

(Portugal, 2007, 121 minutes)

In a remote provincial village, a young woman remains in mourning for her long dead father, accusing his mother and her stepfather of having murdered her father for their personal gain. Essentially a classical tragedy transposed to a rural medium, impeccably presented and performed, its obvious low budget a plus for the intended claustrophobic mood, but in need of some tighter script that would compress the action further.

Paulo Branco presents a Clap Filmes production, with support from ICAM and RTP. Starring Anabela Moreira, Márcia Breia, Fernando Luís, Gonçalo Waddington, Tiago Rodrigues. Directed by João Canijo; produced by Paulo Branco; written by João Canijo, Céline Pouillon, Mayanna von Ledebur; music by Gabriel Gomes; director of photography (Schwarz Film), Mário Castanheira; art director, José Pedro Penha Lopes; wardrobe, Yara Jerónimo, Vera Midões; film editor, João Braz.