Director Marcelo Botta of ‘Betânia’ and Joshua Triggof ‘Satu – Year of the Rabbit’ she light on the profound messages of climate change conveyed through their respective films, today, at a press conference in the 55thInternational Film Festival of India (IFFI). Both films tackle the urgent environmental crisis, offering compelling narratives that explore the impact of climate change on individual lives and communities.

In his address, Marcelo Botta shared his inspiration behind Betânia, which evolved from a documentary he made in 2018. He spoke about the emotional and transformative power of the story, noting that it portrays not only the devastating effects of climate change but also the resilience and hope that emerge in the face of adversity. Betânia revolves around a 65-year-old matriarch who is forced to leave her rural home in northeastern Brazil following her husband's untimely death. As she returns to her childhood village, she faces generational conflicts, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the environmental degradation brought on by over-tourism and unsustainable development. The film captures the struggles of her family to hold on to their cultural identity and way of life amidst a rapidly changing world.

"Betânia is a story of hope and transformation. The film explores how individuals and communities can adapt and thrive, even when faced with overwhelming challenges like climate change,” remarked Marcelo.

On the other hand, Joshua Trigg discussed the inspiration behind ‘Satu – Year of the Rabbit’, a film that follows Bo, a Laotian teenager, and Satu, a young orphan searching for his long-lost mother. The film intertwines Satu's quest for identity with Bo's journey to escape her abusive family situation and pursue her dreams of becoming a journalist. The story takes them to a village recovering from the environmental fallout of unexploded bombs, where they must confront the legacy of war and the broader implications of climate-induced disasters.

Joshua emphasized on the power of cinema in connecting people and raising awareness about climate crisis. "A true and honest story always resonates with audiences. By telling stories like Satu and Betânia, we hope to bring about a deeper understanding of the urgent challenges that the planet is facing and the resilience that defines us”, he said while responding to a query.

Both films stand as poignant reminders of the urgent need to address climate change, but also offer a sense of hope and resilience that comes from human connection and transformation.

About the Films

1.BETÂNIA

Brazil | 2024 | Portuguese, French | 115’ | Colour

Synopsis

Betânia, a sixty-five-year-year-old stalwart family matriarch, is on a turbulent ride on the ever-shifting sands of time. In the wake of her husband’s death, Betânia is forced to move back to the village where she was born, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a simple, agrarian lifestyle without electricity on the cutting edge of a newborn Brazilian desert not so far from Amazon. Pushed by the ancestral sound of Maranhão, Betânia and her family fight to maintain balance and a sense of identity while tradition and modernity collide. Despite the imposing sand dunes, polluted water, financial hardship, generational quarrels, life finds a way, as it always does. Like the miraculous wildflowers found in the desert oases that punctuate the barren landscape, Betânia and her family eventually bloom into new vitality, while the world ends.

Cast and Crew

Director: Marcelo Botta

Producer: Gabriel Di Giacomo, Marcelo Botta

Cinematographer: Bruno Graziano

Editor: Márcio Hashimoto

Screenplay: Marcelo Botta

Cast: Diana Mattos, Tião Carvalho, Caçula Rodrigues, Nádia D’Cássia, Ulysses Azevedo, Michelle Cabral, Vitão Santiago, Enme Paixão

SATU - YEAR OF THE RABBIT

Laos | 2024 | Lao | 93’ | Colour

Synopsis Bo, a Laotian teenager with an abusive father, wants to study journalism at the University of Hanoi, Vietnam. As part of the application, she needs to send in a photo-journalistic piece. Inspired by a project that could see her escape grimness, she sets off on a journey that takes her to the Pha Tang Temple, where she meets the young orphan Satu, taken in as a baby by the head monk. As the village tries to sort out the problem of unexploded bombs unearthed by floods, Bo agrees to head north with Satu in search of his mother – Satu hoping to find answers, Bo looking to carve out a story.

Cast and Crew

Director: Joshua Trigg

Producer: Lee Phongsavanh

Cinematographer: James Chegwyn

Editor: Nick Saunders

Screenplay: Joshua Trigg

Cast: Itthiphone Sonepho, Vanthiva Saysana