SYNOPSIS
After a life of drugs and crime in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro, a group of teenagers are looking for redemption with the help of a missionary priest and a film teacher.
Shot in a rehabilitation centre on the edge of the jungle, Dear Child mixes documentary and poetic narrative to open up a perspective of laughter, innocence and resilience in a world commonly seen as horrifying and hopeless.
For the full synopsis and more information please download the press book:
WINNER OF THE BEST FILM UNICEF AWARD 2021
CREATIVE TEAM
Luca
Ammendola
Born in Lugano, Switzerland, Luca graduated from Parsons school of Design. He briefly worked in the advertising world then moved to Rome where he worked in the legendary Cinecittà film studios. There he learned the craft of filmmaking from the ground up. He directed multiple short and medium documentaries and is a proficient editor. DEAR CHILD is his first feature film.
Nikolai
Galitzine
Nikolai is an Irish/Russian producer/director who began in special effects on horror films, before moving into directing commercials. He produced and shot short films which have premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and the Venice Biennale. Most recently he produced/shot “From The Mountain” a Syrian/Jordanian production to be released in 2021.
Nicolás
Villegas
Originally from Colombia Nicolás is a graduate of the prestigious cinematography program of the Polish National Film in Lodz. The films he has shot have been screened in major festivals around the world, including Los Angeles, Cannes and Berlin, winning various prices.
Zbigniew
Preisner
Born in Poland he is considered to be one of the most outstanding film composers of his generation. For many years Zbigniew enjoyed a close collaboration with director Krzysztof Kieslowski.
His scores have brought him international acclaim. He received the Silver Bear from the Berlin Film Festival in 1997.
Simon
Boswell
Born in London, Simon has scored films by some of independent cinema's incredible mavericks such as Danny Boyle, Alejandro Jodorowsky', Dario Argento, Michael Hoffman', Alex de la Iglesias and Richard Stanley. Along the way Simon has garnered many international awards and nominations, including 2 BAFTAs and a Classical Brit Award.
Father Renato
Chiera
Born in Mondovi, Italy, Father Renato defines himself as a street priest, working on the outskirts of the world alongside those who "are not loved by anyone". Since 1978 he lives in the favelas of Brazil. In 1986 the Italian missionary founded the “Casa do Menor” an NGO that aims at providing a home, an education and a future for all of the abandoned children of Brazil. He is the spiritual guide of the film.
Paul
Woodson
Born in Liverpool he graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Paul’s most recent theatre includes playing a leading character in Maria Aberg’s RSC production of The Duchess of Malfi. He also took over the part of Chris Keller in the Rose Theatre transfer of All My Sons, directed by the legendary American director Michael Rudman. He was awarded The Guildhall Gold Medal Award in 2006.
Jéssica
Córes
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Jéssica started her career as a successful fashion model. In 2015 she was offered the part of Lyris in “Verdades Secretas” a highly successful Brazilian TV show. In 2020 she playing one of the leading roles in "Brasil Imperial” a Tv mini-series. Her latest work can be seen in “Invisibile City" a Netflix produced Crime Drama.
CASA DO MENOR
Many Brazilian children and teenagers are born into a cruel, unjust and exclusive society. They grow up without the love of a family, without prospects and are condemned to the street, abandonment, violence, drugs, crime and early death.
The Casa do Menor was born to enter this tragedy of the unloved children of Brazil. For 30 years, with the presence of love and opportunity, it tries to change their destiny and to rewrite their history with new human and spiritual values.
GALLERY
CREDITS
Eudaimonia Film and Advantage pictures present
in association with NUR films and Guiza Produções
DEAR CHILD
with
Josue Ferreira, Odair Tales Bento, Vagner Portela, Willian Sarmento, Jeferson Vidal, David Borges Prata, Kleber da Silva, Ronaldo Aquino, Wesley Miranda, Paulo Sergio de Souza and Paulo Gomes.
PAUL WOODSON, JÉSSICA CÓRES and FATHER RENATO CHIERA as himself.
Written and directed by LUCA AMMENDOLA. Produced by: NIKOLAI GALITZINE, HAUKUR M, LUKASZ DLUGOLECKI and MAURO PIZZO. Photography: NICOLAS VILLEGAS. Sound recording: PAWEL SZYGENDORSKI. Original Music: ZBIGNIEW PREISNER. Additional music: SIMON BOSWELL. Editing: LUCA AMMENDOLA, NIKOLAI GALITZINE and NIKODEM CHABIOR. Editing supervisor: KAROLINE MOSER. Additional editing: MARIA ARMENGOU. Sound editing and mixing: PIOTR KUBIAK. Foley artist: MARTINS STRAUTNIEKS. Production design: MARCIN BUSKO. Costume design: ROWENNA HARRISON, MARIA CALLOU. Camera assistants: CAMILLA FREITAS, ŁUKASZ GRUDZINSKI, LEONARDO FELICIANO. Production manager: CAIO BRETAS. Local coordinator: KELLY DUQUE.
Shot on location in Brazil on RED 4K.
Portuguese and English language - subtitles available in all languages.
UK / POLAND / BRAZIL - 77 MINUTES - 2020
