Emilia, aged 70, has been looking after Casa da Botica, a home in the rural village of Légua in northern Portugal, for over 40 years. However, when 50-year-old Ana's health begins to fail, Emilia finds herself having to care for her. The film Légua paints a touching portrait of this Portuguese region in the throes of change.
In this old house, Ana helps her friend Emilia, the elderly janitor, who is determined to keep the house in order for its absent owners. As the seasons pass, Ana's daughter Mónica questions her mother's choices, and the three generations of women seek to understand their place in a rapidly fading world, where the cycle of life is renewed only through inevitable endings.
This poignant drama, directed by João Miller Guerra and Filipa Reis, explores themes of belonging, heritage and resilience in the face of social and cultural change. Actors Carla Maciel, Fátima Soares, Vitória Nogueira da Silva, Sara Machado, Paulo Calatré and Manuel Mozos deliver captivating performances, bringing to life characters in search of answers within their own shifting reality.
Lisbon-born João Miller Guerra and Filipa Reis, who has also directed several documentaries, collaborated on this film, which adds to their already remarkable filmography. Légua is their second feature, and promises to be a poignant testimony to a Portuguese region in the throes of change.
In conclusion, Légua by Filipa Reis & João Miller Guerra is a captivating film that explores themes of heritage, belonging and resilience in a changing world. Presented in the Cineastes' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival 2023, this moving portrait of three generations of women offers a profound reflection on the importance of finding one's place in a changing reality.
