MAMA DAN SO QUE SORRISO

Q: What inspired the story behind your short film?
A: For as long as I can remember, I have always been surrounded by hardworking women. My mother, my grandmother, and many other women from my village used to wake up before 5 am to go to work and were always the last to go to bed. Isabel Cardoso, even living in Portugal, remains identifiable with all the women in my life. I wanted to pay tribute to these women I admire so much, who I always felt were underrepresented on screen.

Q: Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?
A: The language barrier was a significant challenge. There were many stories I wanted to tell her and many I wanted to hear from her. Fortunately, a dear friend of mine who speaks Portuguese helped translate our conversations.

Q: How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?
A: I spent a lot of time immersing myself in her universe, simply observing her gestures and how she occupied her space. The limited communication between us actually helped me better observe and understand her reality.

Q: Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
A: I’m incredibly grateful for this selection. We don’t have many significant festivals on the continent that focus on showcasing short films. It’s a great honor to bring my film to the South African audience.