Saw this at the Ghent filmfestival 2019. It is not easy for any filmmaker to create a futuristic 2027-world that visibly differs from ours, being believable yet not technically challenged. Luckily, this movie did not overreach in any respect, as cars, houses, appliances and so on looked the same as nowadays. No future vision in the traditional SciFi-sense was demonstrated, and I don't blame the film makers for (dis)missing the opportunity. Alternatively, they focused on two societal changes, viz. A growing influence of evangelicals on daily life, and the external visibility of women being pregnant by means of appliances reporting it while e.g. Shopping.

The only thing noticeably novel, also very original, was a drive-thru confession facility (very unlike the fixed ritual like in Roman Catholic churches when I was young, but rather a good conversation when in doubt about your belief). Our main protagonist uses this facility very often. Her usual complaint is that she has done so much to support the basic principles of her religious belief, by hindering people to get divorced, that she finally wants a deserved "sign" from above to confirm she has done well.

What definitely changed in the years between nowadays and 2027, as per this movie, was that the separation between church and state seemed less apparent anymore, at least not as clear cut as it is for us. The neutrality of the civil servant in the person of our main protagonist, may or may not be an exception, but I would not be surprised when the filmmakers referred to a growing fundamentalism in Brazil, given recent developments in that region. I cannot imagine this to be pure coincidence (in other words: social commentary included). The sect with the express objective to support couples wanting to forward their matrimony towards its ultimate goal by helping them to become pregnant, showed some unusual rituals to accomplish that. Only couples were allowed, which becomes overly clear near the end when our female main protagonist cannot even enter to have an urgent dialog with the mistress, flatly being refused at the door.

The story went in a different direction than I had assumed (and hoped for). Given that she checked the DNA of her baby with those of the men in the sect, she was sure that the father would not be someone out of that circle, and neither her own husband. (Note: She was in the unique position to have DNA info on all men in the sect out of her job as registrar, where every applicant had to provide DNA.) Having eagerly waited for a "sign" as thanks for her efforts (see above),she made a bold assumption being touched by God. Hence, she deduced the Second Coming was imminent, herself being the chosen one to carry the Messiah. The pastor was not prepared to accept that, reported her to higher authorities, after which he was not allowed to speak with her any further. I'n not very sure what the next step of the church would have been (the movie does not enlighten us),as the Second Coming is something not all religions think equally.

I'm not sure how I feel about this movie. Some scenes are very uncomfortable to watch and the beginning of the movie made me very interested to explore this religious dystopia yet the way the story was developed felt kinda lackluster to me. I think I was just expecting another plot. Still, it brings some nice questions into light, it is well acted (especially the main character, lived by Dira Paes) and well-shot (loved the neon photography).

If you like Black Mirror, you should give a shot to this film. Just don't watch it with your parents in the room.

Not properly bad but a little frustrating. I expected a much deeper and encompassing distopy but I saw some nice ideas loosely connected without a clear understanding of what the movie is about. Acting is good (Dira Paes is always awesome),the film is visually nice too, the fururistic Brazil seems credible (with the advance of Neo-Pentecostal fundamentalism over national institutions) but lacks desirable information for espectators, and there is much more explicit (and convincing) sex in the film than I could imagine.