Movie: Into Oneself
Director: Guilherme Rosa
“I fancied you’d return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)
I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)”
- A Mad Girl’s Love Song, Sylvia Plath
Our mind is an uncanny space. Here, things are born in darkness and then they grow up amidst darker secrets. Sometimes people fail to differentiate their imagination from reality and seek answers in everything that comes across them. The answers sometimes quench our queries for a while, but sometimes they leave us in front of bigger doubts, crushing our will and soul. Confused and lost, people plunge into the deepest darkest part of their minds and stay in a make-believe world that suits their suits. Director Guilherme Rosa has tried to show this complexity in his movie Into Oneself (Para Dentro de Si). The movie is truly a peek into one’s own mind and beautiful exploration of the intricate human mind. Into Oneself is a story of Irene and how she faces her reality. In the movie, we see that she is trying her best to overcome a traumatizing experience that has puzzled her life so far. Presently her mental health is on the verge of collapsing. As her happiness and sanity come at a stake, she sees no other way than to try a mythical medicine. As she ventures deeper she realizes what looked like a mind-bending experience turned out to be true.
Portuguese mythology is full of enchantment and strange beings that scare humans. The director uses such an element in his story. Irene, with her husband Carlos, reaches an enchanted place where they promise to cure her. And from there everything around her starts to shift rapidly. As the shaman begins his ritual, the world around Irene starts shattering. The reality becomes a question making her puzzled and distraught. Now, the film interestingly and subtly leaves another question. It makes the viewers wonder if what Irene feels is the reality or if there is something more to it. Like Irene, the audience too becomes baffled and conflicted. The movie perfectly shows the conflict between appearance and reality which is the main essence of this film. The short film is shot in Brazil and the beauty of the land plays an important role in creating the mystical shamans and their enchanted space. The director himself has taken the mantle of cinematography and his effort and knowledge are evident in each frame. Guilherme has also done the editing and he does that work impeccably as well.
The movie has a powerful cast. Their expressions and honest portrayal of the characters show how dedicated they are. Tathiana Schoppen Veronese plays Irene in the movie. She perfectly expresses every single emotion Irene has been through. Her acting makes Irene seem to be real and a next-door person. Thiago Tax plays the shaman who leads Irene towards the ritual and eventually manipulates her mind. Beto Jacobesen’s Carlos is a pivotal character and Jacobsen fits into it so well.
Overall the film delivers a lingering experience despite its short length. Guilherme has been able to serve the viewers different and fresh content, and we will be looking forward to more such works in the future!
