Nocturne for a Forest

Nocturno para uma floresta

In this beguiling work of speculative history by Catarina Vasconcelos (The Metamorphosis of Birds), the story of an insecure pope, a reclusive order of monks and Portugal’s foremost 17th century painter, Josefa de Óbidos, all entwine to make up a bewitching tapestry. As Pope Gregory worries about his legacy, the monks claim a section of a beautiful forest for themselves, just as they have done with a controversial painting of the Virgin Mary. Yet in the spirit world, the souls of women light up the forbidden leaves as a feverish debate rage about how patriarchal forces seek to limit, control and claim the image of beauty.

This film will screen as part of the programme Shorts: More Souls Than One.