Becoming Male in the Middle Ages Becoming Male in the Middle Ages
Isadora Neves Marques, 2022
22’, 16mm transferred to video, color, surround sound, spoken in Portuguese subtitles. Portugal. Distribution and sales by Portugal Film – Portuguese Film Agency.
22’, 16mm transferred to video, color, surround sound, spoken in Portuguese subtitles. Portugal. Distribution and sales by Portugal Film – Portuguese Film Agency.
SYNOPSIS
Mirene and André, and Carl and Vicente, are both couples in their mid-thirties. While Mirene and André struggle with their fertility, Vicente decides to undergo an experimental procedure, implanting an ovary in his body in the hopes of having a child with Carl. A love drama of speculative undertones, Becoming Male in the Middle Ages is an intimate tale about queer sexuality, bodily autonomy, reproductive desires, and the ghost of normativity.
Becoming Male in the Middle Ages was the winner of the Ammodo Tiger Short Award for best international short film at its premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and nominated for the European Film Awards both in 2022.
Mirene and André, and Carl and Vicente, are both couples in their mid-thirties. While Mirene and André struggle with their fertility, Vicente decides to undergo an experimental procedure, implanting an ovary in his body in the hopes of having a child with Carl. A love drama of speculative undertones, Becoming Male in the Middle Ages is an intimate tale about queer sexuality, bodily autonomy, reproductive desires, and the ghost of normativity.
Becoming Male in the Middle Ages was the winner of the Ammodo Tiger Short Award for best international short film at its premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and nominated for the European Film Awards both in 2022.
PRAISE
"Mirene and André are a heterosexual couple struggling with infertility issues.
Carl and Vicente are a homosexual couple undergoing an experimental procedure in order to have a biological child. The film's classic cinematography contrasts with a science-fictionalised narrative, to deliver an utterly refreshing exploration of gender, reproduction, normativity, and the notion of family. A work that’s food for thought – like the lab-grown meat in its opening scene."
- Ammodo Tiger Competition, International
Film Festival Rotterdam, 2022
"Mirene and André are a heterosexual couple struggling with infertility issues.
Carl and Vicente are a homosexual couple undergoing an experimental procedure in order to have a biological child. The film's classic cinematography contrasts with a science-fictionalised narrative, to deliver an utterly refreshing exploration of gender, reproduction, normativity, and the notion of family. A work that’s food for thought – like the lab-grown meat in its opening scene."
- Ammodo Tiger Competition, International
Film Festival Rotterdam, 2022
CREDITS
Written and directed by Isadora Neves Marques
Cast Isabel Costa, Zé Bernardino, Nuno Nolasco, Pedro Neves Marques
With the special participation of Joana Manuel, Vítor de Andrade
Director of Photography Marta Simões
First Camera Assistants Ana Ramos, Lisa Persson
Second Image Assistants João Porto, Francisca Castro, Helena Marina
Sound Recordings Bernardo Theriaga, Rúben Santiago
Voice-over Technician Pedro Góis
Gaffer Luís Paulo Xein
Art Direction Joana Cardoso
Special Effects Supervisor Isadora Neves Marques
Color Grading Andreia Bertini
Cast Isabel Costa, Zé Bernardino, Nuno Nolasco, Pedro Neves Marques
With the special participation of Joana Manuel, Vítor de Andrade
Director of Photography Marta Simões
First Camera Assistants Ana Ramos, Lisa Persson
Second Image Assistants João Porto, Francisca Castro, Helena Marina
Sound Recordings Bernardo Theriaga, Rúben Santiago
Voice-over Technician Pedro Góis
Gaffer Luís Paulo Xein
Art Direction Joana Cardoso
Special Effects Supervisor Isadora Neves Marques
Color Grading Andreia Bertini
Sound Design and Mixing Tiago Matos,
Post-Production Studio Walla Collective
Voice-over studio Kino Sound Studio
Edited by Margarida Lucas
Original Soundtrack by HAUT
Design Alex Walker
Production Director Catarina de Sousa
Produced by Foi Bonita a Festa
With the kind support of Liverpool Biennial, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and ICA – Portuguese Cinema Institute
Distribution and sales by Portugal Film – Portuguese Film Agency
FILM FESTIVALS
IFFR | International Film Festival Rotterdam (premiere and Ammodo Tiger Short Award Winner), The Netherlands, 2022
Vilnius International Film Festival, Lithuania, 2022
Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2022
IndieLisboa - International Film Festival, Portugal, 2022
International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany, 2022
Vienna Shorts, Austria, 2022
Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, Germany, 2022
Leiden Shorts, The Netherlands, 2022
Short Waves, Poland, 2022
Festival MiX, Italy, 2022
Curtas Vila do Conde - International Film Festival, Portugal, 2022
Bourgas International Film Festival, Bulgaria, 2022
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia, 2022
International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, India, 2022
Vilnius International Film Festival, Lithuania, 2022
Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2022
IndieLisboa - International Film Festival, Portugal, 2022
International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Germany, 2022
Vienna Shorts, Austria, 2022
Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, Germany, 2022
Leiden Shorts, The Netherlands, 2022
Short Waves, Poland, 2022
Festival MiX, Italy, 2022
Curtas Vila do Conde - International Film Festival, Portugal, 2022
Bourgas International Film Festival, Bulgaria, 2022
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia, 2022
International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, India, 2022
Into The Great Wide Open, The Netherlands, 2022
Helsinki International Film Festival - Love & Anarchy, Finland, 2022
Encounters Film Festival, UK, 2022
Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival BIEFF, Romania, 2022
Le Cri du Court, France, 2022
New York Film Festival, USA, 2022
IndieCork, Ireland, 2022
IFFR | International Film Festival Rotterdam: Return of the Tiger, The Netherlands, 2022
KFFK - Film Festival Cologne, Germany, 2022
Festival MiX - Special Selection Programme, Italy, 2022
Caminhos do Cinema Português, Portugal, 2022
Entre Olhares, Portugal, 2022
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Switzerland, 2022
Queer Porto, Portugal, 2022
Helsinki International Film Festival - Love & Anarchy, Finland, 2022
Encounters Film Festival, UK, 2022
Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival BIEFF, Romania, 2022
Le Cri du Court, France, 2022
New York Film Festival, USA, 2022
IndieCork, Ireland, 2022
IFFR | International Film Festival Rotterdam: Return of the Tiger, The Netherlands, 2022
KFFK - Film Festival Cologne, Germany, 2022
Festival MiX - Special Selection Programme, Italy, 2022
Caminhos do Cinema Português, Portugal, 2022
Entre Olhares, Portugal, 2022
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Switzerland, 2022
Queer Porto, Portugal, 2022