Shine Your Eyes

Brazilian Director Matias Mariani returns with this gorgeously shot, atmospheric and abstract look at brotherhood, melancholy and family values. Arriving in Sao Paulo from Nigeria, in search of his older brother, Amadi mingles in the African immigrants community discovering aspects of compassion, struggle, comradeship and solitude among them. As he puts up the pieces of an enigmatic puzzle, with the help of sophisticated technology skills, he unveils the mysteries of a frenetic, over-populated but lonesome metropolis, while looking for reasons for the disappearance. The cinematography brilliantly captures the sense of abandon and loss throughout the speedy city, reflecting our tumultuous modern era, and the cultural and language barriers experienced by Amadi. An acclaimed selection at this year's Berlin, Mariani conceived an exuberant, vibrant, poetic, and inventive "one man's journey" drama.