Manas

Island of Marajó, Amazon rainforest. 13-year-old Marcielle (Tielle) lives by the riverbanks with her father, mother, and three siblings. Prompted by her mother’s words, she idolizes her older sister, who supposedly escaped their poverty by “finding a good man” on the barges that ply the region. As Tielle matures, her idealized visions shatter, leaving her trapped between two abusive environments. Increasingly worried about her younger sister and the bleak future they face, she decides to confront the oppressive system that controls her family and the women in their community. Stemming from documentary research in remote Amazon villages, Manas is an immersive and sensitive portrait of a painfully familiar issue set deep in an unfamiliar environment. Says director Marianna Brennand, “Through Manas, I want to give voice to these women and girls who would never be heard otherwise, honoring the stories they shared with me.”