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Two Times João Liberada
(Duas Vezes João Liberada)
João, a young actress, is cast in a biopic to play the gender-nonconforming Liberada, who was persecuted by the Inquisition in 18th-century Portugal. At first thrilled to embody such a resilient, rebellious figure from history, she begins to clash with the film’s director over his inclination to portray Liberada’s suffering and the violence inflicted upon them. As Liberada’s ghost begins to haunt João, the director slips into a mysterious coma; João finds herself at the helm of the chaotic production, where through cinema she must make sense of her own relationship to Liberada and their legacy.
Paula Tomás Marques’s beguiling debut takes an inquisitive dive into the psychology of filmmaking and performance, asking critical questions on the ownership of storytelling. Through a blend of formal experiments and earnest playfulness shot on sunny 16mm, Liberada’s spirit and their place in trans history comes to life through João’s living, breathing present.