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Registration: 2307054768930
Genre: Fiction
Alternative title: Christmas Pardon
Year: 2023
Duration: 120h
Director: Cassiano Prado
Countries: Brazil, Germany
Producer: Cassiano Prado
Screenwriter: Cassiano Prado
Synopsis:
Upon receiving a twenty-four-hour Christmas pardon, a middle-class young man convicted of murdering his best friend chooses to spend his short window of freedom in a surprise visit to his victim's family. João, a young middle-class prisoner who became an evangelical while in prison, receives a Christmas pardon to spend the night outside of prison after eight years of incarceration. In a hurry to be able to return in time to what we imagine is his family's home (and not jeopardize his imminent parole), we witness Carla, a young and successful criminal lawyer, arriving at her parent's house in the countryside of São Paulo for the Christmas dinner. The cold reception from her parents, who hear the news about the Christmas pardon granted to thousands of prisoners, already hints at how the Christmas night will unfold. While João, still struggling to navigate the world after eight years in prison, fights to reach his destination on time, we witness the beginning of Carla's night, as she quickly realizes her mother's deteriorating health, whom she hasn't seen in a long time. The tense relationship between Carla, Marlene, and Otávio becomes evident during the Christmas dinner, revolving around a major trauma they never overcame together. Carla has no doubt that her mother's cancer is the result of her clinging to the inability to overcome the death of her son. Meanwhile, João arrives in town with an address in hand and soon comes across Carla's house, where he secretly observes the family through the window. Inside the house, the family tries to carry on the night by exchanging Secret Santa gifts, and words of affection are exchanged until Carla discovers that her deceased brother has been included in the gift exchange. Emotions intensify as Carla confronts her parents definitively about their lack of acceptance and constant focus on the tragedy. Carla threatens to leave that night, frightening João, who observes everything from outside, but is stopped by Marlene, concerned for her safety. Lacking the courage to ring the doorbell, João decides to leave. Hungry and penniless, he wanders the streets of the upscale neighborhood in search of food in trash cans until he finds an open bakery. Inside, João talks to the baker about the guilt he carries, realizing that returning to prison without fulfilling what he set out to do will have significant psychological consequences for him. Back at Carla's house, João, even before ringing the doorbell, is surprised by Marlene, who panics upon seeing him there. The family locks themselves inside the house in fear and calls the police, but not before Otávio appears with a gun in hand and goes after the boy. With João held captive by Otávio, while the extended family enjoys the Christmas lunch as if nothing is happening, Carla decides to bring a plate of food to the boy but is overpowered, resulting in João being shot by Otávio. It is through João's escape that Carla, who will go after the boy, will have the chance to talk about what happened. Initially, João, who was once his victim's best friend, shuts down towards Carla, the tough lawyer. However, when she takes him to the hospital and then rushes to get him back to prison in time to not miss his parole commitment, João is deeply moved. The answer as to whether he will ever be forgiven by Carla doesn't come, but in his heart, he, who once claimed to be an evangelical, loses interest in religion within the prison and tells his religious friends that he has finally been touched by something greater.
Color: Yes
Sound: Yes
Copyright info provided by Cassiano Prado
