Visions du Réel 2026: Saudades Eternas (dir. Emma Boccanfuso) | Review

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In Chapéu Mangueira, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a war is raging between drug traffickers and police forces. Deadly gunfire is a frequent sound in the maze of alleys that make up the favela. Amidst this turmoil, Sueli strives to keep her family afloat. In Saudades Eternas, Emma Boccanfuso paints a touching portrait of this iron-willed matriarch. The feature documentary is having its world premiere in the international competition at Visions du Réel 2026.

When she loses her temper, Sueli’s shouts echo throughout the neighborhood. This petite woman rules her large family with an iron fist, struggling to maintain order in both her home and the community to ensure a decent future for the younger generations. Whenever conditions allow, she opens the bar below her house, where neighbors and friends gather for a festive evening.

Over several months, Emma Boccanfuso filmed the daily lives of Sueli and her family with a gaze that is benevolent, occasionally amused, but always empathetic. The film, composed of cinéma vérité scenes, is punctuated by interactions between the protagonists and the director, who appears to have shared in their daily lives for several weeks. The result is a highly immersive experience for the viewer, further heightened by the framing choices. These highlight the verticality and cramped nature of the dwellings lining the favela’s sunken alleys, and the resulting lack of privacy.

By capturing Sueli’s story on screen, the director documents the precarious living conditions in the favela and the abandonment by public authorities who, in response to drug trafficking, send in police forces that fire live ammunition at residents without due process. However, rather than the violence plaguing the neighborhood, the director emphasizes the strength of the bonds uniting the inhabitants and their resilience.

Explore our coverage of the 57th edition of Visions du Réel here.