'ALICE' (2005). REVIEW, by Sofia Cerqueira

Join the solitary journey of a father looking for a missing child. Alice's plot might be written in one line but no words would be enough to describe the twirled emotions one will share once we jump into the obsessive and heart-breaking journey of Mario, a normal guy from Lisbon, looking for his 4-year old girl.

Every day, Mario repeats the exact same routine he did the day he lost Alice. Then he collects the several tapes he has placed all over the city, which he scans methodically, in order to catch a glimpse of his missing daughter. Through his mechanical actions, we are dragged down into a spiral of grief, anxiety and despair, among a city that ignores the dramas of its individuals, absorbed by the pointless routine of modern lives.

Alice casts a grey and slow-paced perspective over Lisbon, filmed as it has never been filmed before. Few words, sublime acting, beautiful photography and heart-touching music (composed by the Portuguese pianist Bernardo Sassetti) complete this nostalgic and powerful portrait of a man shattered by the overwhelming feeling of loss.

The debut work of the young director Marco Martins clearly raised the bar in the Portuguese movie scene, with its perfection when it comes to film-making, conquering audiences in Cannes festival and several other contests. A must-see, that will certainly touch even the coldest hearts.

ALICE, by Marco Martins (2005)

November 11, 4pm

Lille Auditorium (Room 234)

Danish School of Journalism