Rat Fever

Zizo is an anarchist poet living on the edges of Recife. He puts out a hand-made publication called Febre do Rato, hands it out in the street, and reads poetry to anyone who listens. Around him are friends who live the same way: nobody works, everyone is against something. Then he meets Eneida and encounters, for the first time, something outside the order he built for himself. Cláudio Assis shot the film entirely in black and white. The narrative shows the poverty of Brazil's northeast and the cultural revolt raised against it directly, with nudity, sex and obscenity used as part of that revolt. The film chose provocation as a method and does not hide it. Irandhir Santos plays Zizo. Nanda Costa and Matheus Nachtergaele are also in the cast. Who it's for: Viewers who like Brazilian independent cinema, films of political provocation, and black-and-white photography. Who it's not for: The sex and nudity are constant and direct. The character's revolt also starts repeating itself after a point.