Brazil - 2003

The Dead Girl’s Party

Synopsis: Twelve years after his mother commits suicide, a young boy becomes the object for the villager's fervently devotion. People say he is capable of bringing his mother back to life. Then, when he finds the dress of a missing girl, the villagers believe him to be a saint. Soon though, his doubts begin getting the best of him. Death and resurrection, beatification and miracles, a voyage to the heart of religious conciliation.

In 1997, after dedicating 10 years to TV and video production, Vania Catani produced a documentary series about the Brazilian writer Guimaraes Rosa: Os nomes de rosa.

In 1998, she produced a feature film, Primeiras estorias, adapted from a novel by the same author. The series and the film were both directed by Pedro Bial.

Then, she produced another documentary series, O fim do sem fim, and a long feature, O narradores de javé, directed by Eliane Caffé (Fipresci Prize, Fribourg (2003), and many prizes in Brazil).

She is now working on the first film by Matheus Nachtergaele: A festa da menina morta was shot in february and march 2007in the town of Barcelos in Amazonia. It is now being edited.

She has also produced The Waiting by Ernesto Solis in 2004. This animated film was selected in Biarritz and Rotterdam Film Festivals.

Bananeira Filmes is working on new projects: Merry Christmas (Feliz Natal), by Selton Mello which should be shot in july 2007, Dirty Love by Paulo Caldas, The Animal Race by Ernesto Solis and Temporary Hell by José Luiz Villamarim.

Matheus Nachtergaele is one of today’s most important Brazilian actors.

He has a brilliant career in the theatre, as well as in cinema. He has played in such films as Central do Brasil and Ciudad de Deus.

He was awarded the Best Actor Award in 2001.

A festa da menina morta is his first feature film as director.