Dirty Land

In the harsh riverbanks of Northern Portugal, an introverted boy lives between his troubled father and the nurturing female neighbors. When he witnesses a shameful attitude from his father, João will be tested by a growing dilemma: who should he remain loyal to?

In the harsh riverbank landscapes of the north of Portugal, once the setting of an ever-present national tragedy, João is a 12-year-old introverted boy who lives alone with his alcoholic father António - an artisanal lamprey fisherman. Their communication is sparse in words and João spends the days sneaking into the unlocked house next door, where he most feels at home, finding comfort and caress from three women: Teresa and her teenage daughters Paula and Liliana. When together, all five of them look like a single dysfunctional family sustained by a homemade business of lamprey selling.

However, in a year plagued by drought and the effects of climate change, the business’s profitability is scarce and António’s erratic behavior makes the situation increasingly unsustainable. When in one of the dawn fishing outings João unexpectedly witnesses a shameful paternalistic aggression from his father towards an inebriated Paula, he faces a dilemma on which side to choose.

Keywords: addictions, alcoholism, youth