Sandro Aguilar’s latest feature, First Person Plural, has unveiled its trailer ahead of its screening at the International Film Festival Rotterdam as part of the prestigious Tiger Competition. The film, a product of the acclaimed production company O Som e a Fúria, continues the studio’s tradition of supporting innovative cinema, following works such as Miguel Gomes’ Tabu and Arabian Nights, Eugène Green’s The Portuguese Nun, and Lucrecia Martel’s Zama.
A Story of Love, Loss, and Hallucination
The narrative follows Mateus Lagoa and his wife, Irene, as they prepare to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on a luxurious tropical island. Their journey is meant to be a retreat, but it leaves their teenage son vulnerable and alone. Before their departure, an unexpected night apart is disrupted by severe vaccine side effects, including fever, fainting, and vivid hallucinations. This unsettling experience fractures their sense of reality, introducing a melancholic atmosphere that hints at hidden perils beneath the surface.
Reflecting on the film’s themes, Aguilar shared:
“When Mateus and Irene wake up in their idyllic retreat and the whole landscape changes abruptly: luxury hotels, massages, cocktails, stereotypes of a reward on earth, everything takes on a ceremonial nature. Everyone died several times before. By now everything should go unpunished, but this kind of post-mortem delirium, which conjures up an artificial paradise, seems to be orchestrated by a vaguely bored cruel demon who, although amused by offering romances and planting traps for his pawns, is powerless to undo their entanglement, their undying love.”
A Celebrated Cast and Crew
The film stars Albano Jerónimo, Isabel Abreu, and Eduardo Aguilar in leading roles. It is produced by Sandro Aguilar himself, alongside Luís Urbano and Alessandro Borrelli, with La Sarraz Pictures contributing as a coproducer. Portugal Film oversees global distribution.
Aguilar’s work has consistently gained recognition on the international stage. His previous features, Mariphasa and Uprise, and short films such as The Serpent and Corpo e Meio, were met with critical acclaim, with the latter two earning nominations for the European Film Awards.
First Person Plural promises a unique cinematic experience, blending surrealism with deeply human themes, as it premieres to an international audience.
