Baixio des Bestas (Bog of Beasts)

Winner of a Tiger Award at the IFFR 2007. Controversial and universal drama about sexual violence.
Auxiliadora lives in a poor village amongst sugar plantains in the Brazilian countryside. Her brutal grandfather abuses her by exhibiting her naked behind the petrol station where local and visiting machos get off whilst looking at her body. During the daytime, her grandfather seems to be a caring and sensitive man who likes to chitchat in the village square; his actions at night stem from his frustration about his prostitute daughter. These brutal acts don’t seem to be a matter of social class. Through beautifully styled images the dreadfulness of this part of Brazil is placed in a much broader context.