The Fever

Maya Da-Rin's 2021 Brazilian film follows Justino, a security guard at the port of Manaus. He is Desana; as his daughter prepares to leave for Brasília, a fever with no identifiable cause begins. The film does not treat the illness as a medical problem. Working in the city, Justino has lost his connection to the forest; the narrative builds the fever as the answer to that break and refuses to explain it. Regis Myrupu leads and his performance drew wide praise. The sound design keeps the forest constantly outside the frame; the camera is fixed and the pace low. The narrative shows racism inside everyday conversation. Who it's for: those who like Brazilian independent cinema and narratives about indigenous communities. Who it's not for: viewers expecting explanation; the film never states the cause of the fever.