Premiere of the film ‘Banzo’ directed by a lecturer from ULusófona

On 23 January, Portuguese cinema welcomes the premiere of Banzo, a feature film directed by Margarida Cardoso, filmmaker and lecturer at Lusófona University. Set in 1907 on a tropical African island, the film tells the story of Afonso, a doctor who attempts to treat a group of servants affected by Banzo, an emotional condition caused by deep nostalgia and loss of hope among the enslaved. Throughout the narrative, the film exposes the lasting scars of colonialism, exploring the psychological and emotional condition of the workers.

In Banzo, Afonso seeks to save the servants, many of whom succumb to death or suicide out of despair. To do so, he isolates them in a remote region, trying to cure an invisible condition rooted in the emotional and social suffering of colonialism. However, he soon discovers that the root of this suffering goes far beyond medicine, involving complex human relationships and the historical legacy of colonisation.

Margarida Cardoso, renowned filmmaker and lecturer at Lusófona University, has dedicated her career to exploring historical and post-colonial consequences, as she did in her acclaimed films The Murmuring Coast (2004) and Sita – The Life and Times of Sita Valles (2022). Banzo is another of her works offering a unique reflection on the aftermath of colonialism and its impact on contemporary societies.

The cast of Banzo includes the award-winning Luso-Angolan actor Hoji Fortuna, who plays Afonso, and the French-Portuguese actor Carloto Cotta, known for his performances in films such as Tabu and Diamantino. Both enrich the narrative with intense emotional performances.

Do not miss its premiere on 23 January, and come support national cinema while reflecting on the impact of colonialism in contemporary societies. This is a film that will undoubtedly leave a profound mark on all who watch it.

Poster