The Root

An ode to the matriarch of Trás-os-Montes - the resilient woman, symbol of strength, guardian of tradition.

"A Raiz", currently in production, is being created in an academic context, as a final project of the Master's in Cinema and Photography - specialization in Documentary and Experimental Cinema -, at ESMAD - Escola Superior de Artes e Design Media (Polytechnic of Porto).
The documentary presents a generational portrait. It presents the matriarchy of Trás-os-Montes (the northern region of Portugal), where women emerge as examples of resilience and strength. Their story is told in the first person, by the voice of someone who was born and lives in the rural interior.

This film appears almost as an biographical act, since the director, born and raised in Bragança, a city from Trás-os-montes, belongs to a matriarchal clan. The central character is Odete, the 75-year-old grandmother, who lives independently, autonomously, and as active as possible, in a tiny house that she helped to build. Through memories - and drawings of the plants that marked her life in the village - a journey is made to a not-so-distant past. We get to know the woman who was born in the 20th century, in isolated population fragments, shaped by customs and habits, by the lessons that time brings.

This film aims to show an intimate, family connection that highlights the role of memory in identity and acts as a letter of love and admiration between granddaughter and grandmother. It also aims to perpetuate the fundamental role of women in the social, cultural and historical contexts of Trás-os-Montes.

Whether it's through contributions or sharing, all types of participation are welcome and greatly appreciated!

About the author

The production of "A Raiz" is motivated by ESMAD, an institution belonging to the Polytechnic of Porto, located in Vila do Conde, Portugal. It has national (and international) recognition for the projects developed and is the house where the director is receiving training in the area of Cinema.

Ângela Rodrigues Pereira is responsible for directing and producing, as well as filming and post-production. She was born in Bragança, the district where this project is being developed, but lives in Porto. Her career began as a journalist, after completing her degree in Communication Sciences at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto. She is currently completing her Masters in Cinema and Photography, specializing in Documentary and Experimental Cinema, at ESMAD. Her debut short film, "Retalhos" , is currently touring film festivals, having been an official selection for the London Global Film Awards , the Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival , the Los Angeles Short Film Awards and was a finalist for the London Director Awards .

Ângela Rodrigues Pereira é aluna de cinema, videógrafa e editora e está a realizar este projeto.

Joining the team in the sound department are António Abreu (sound post-production), David Varela and Carlos Fernandes (original soundtrack composition) and João Fortunato (recording technician).

António Abreu formou-se em Produção e Tecnologias da Música na Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo. É também vocalista da banda Sala 7.

David Varela é licenciado em Produção e Tecnologias da Música pela Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo e mestre em Multimédia pela Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto. Atualmente trabalha como sound designer na FABAMAQ e é produtor do (próprio) estúdio Above The Record, situado em Vizela.

Budget and due dates

The project began to be built at the end of last year. In order to capture the essence of everyday life in a village, the routines, rituals and moments relevant to the family context, filming has been taking place over several months.n At the time of the launch of this campaign, it is entering a more regular and intense period.

Global calendar:

1. Pre-Production : September 2024 - January 2025
2. Filming : November 2024 - March 2025
3. Post-Production : April - June 2025
4. Distribution : from August 2025

The expenses associated with the film universe are numerous and extend from pre-production to after the film is completed. As this is an academic project, and although the school supports the implementation of projects by providing equipment and guidance, resources are very limited and require personal investment. For this reason, it is necessary to resort to partnerships and donations.

The stipulated amount is intended to cover the following expenses:

• Acquisition of complementary technical equipment;

• Travel;

• Recruitment of team members;

• Unforeseen events;

• Promotion and distribution at film festivals (national and international).

All monetary support raised will be used exclusively to cover expenses associated with the film!

Images