Neon Bull

In the northeast of Brazil a crew travels the vaquejada, a form of bull sport. Iremar looks after the animals, lives in the truck and in his spare time sews dresses from patterns cut out of magazines; what he wants is to be a fashion designer. With him are Galega, who drives, and her daughter Cacá. Gabriel Mascaro films it like documentary and treats masculinity and the body in unfamiliar terms: muscular men handle animal dung and the same men choose tulle. It builds no plot and shows a way of living. It took a special jury prize in Orizzonti at Venice. The long unbroken final scene is its most discussed passage. Who it is for: viewers who like observational Latin American cinema and unusual treatments of the body. Who it is not for: anyone troubled by explicit sex and scenes with animals.