Day by day

Viagem a Portugal (Voyage au Portugal)

Portugal // 2011 // Couleur // 75'
Portuguese/French/Russian with French/English subt

Swiss première

At Faro airport, Maria from the Ukraine is the only passenger to be detained and questioned by the customs officials. The interrogation turns into a nightmare when the Immigration Services realize that the man who’s waiting for Maria is Senegalese. Illegal immigration? White trafficking? Everything is possible! Viagem a Portugal forcefully denounces European procedures in which discrimination, racism and arresting people because you don’t like the look of them have become only too common. Sergio Trefaut offers us a fictional film in black and white inspired by a true story filmed in a totally original manner, that conveys the fear and distress of protagonists humiliated by unacceptable police practices. A touching and brilliantly directed film enhanced by Maria de Medeiros’ wonderful performance.

Sérgio Tréfaut