🎬 Good Manners

🎬 Good Manners is the unwavering, sacrificial power of motherhood and the bonds formed in isolation. The film is split into two distinct halves. The first part is a slow-burn, atmospheric romance between Clara, a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, and her wealthy, mysterious employer Ana. As Clara cares for the pregnant Ana, she discovers that her employer’s "condition" is tied to the full moon. After a tragic and visceral turning point, the second half jumps seven years into the future, following Clara as she raises Ana’s son, Joel, in secret.

The atmosphere is enchanting, macabre, and painterly. It uses heightened, "Disney-esque" colors and matte-painting backdrops to create a world that feels like an urban fable. The viewer feels the heavy weight of social class and racial disparity, but it is eventually eclipsed by the raw, physical reality of raising a "monster." It is a story about protection and belonging—Clara’s love for Joel is a fierce, quiet rebellion against a world that would fear and destroy him. Emotionally, the film transitions from the heat of a forbidden romance to the cold, steadfast devotion of a mother protecting her child's dangerous nature.

Did you know? (Czy wiesz, że...)
Award Winner: The film was a critical darling on the festival circuit, winning the Special Jury Prize at the Locarno International Film Festival and the Best Film award at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.

Visual Influences: The directors were heavily inspired by early Disney classics like Sleeping Beauty and the films of Jacques Tourneur. This explains the film's unique use of occasional musical numbers and its "storybook" aesthetic.

Social Commentary: Beyond the werewolf tropes, the film is a sharp critique of contemporary Brazil, highlighting the vast gap between the wealthy elite (represented by Ana’s high-rise apartment) and the struggling working class (represented by Clara’s neighborhood).

Practical Effects: To maintain the fairy-tale feel, the film uses a mix of animatronics, puppetry, and CGI for the creature effects, giving the "monster" a tactile, old