Banzo (film)
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- Filipa Reis
- Yohann Cornu
- François d'Artemare
| 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 |
|
| Distributed by | Uma Pedra no Sapato |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 127 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| 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]
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
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] |
