TIFF Inspirations: 17 Dias

17 Dias*
17 Days

Contemporary World Cinema
Brazil, 2014
Portuguese/English Subtitles
World Premiere
123 minutes - Colour
Cast: Asante Tracey , Nadine Gravis

In 17 Days, Ana and Miguel's turbulent 17-day relationship technically has a happy ending, but only because the film is chronologically told backwards.

The film opens with Ana angrily throwing Miguel's belongings (including his vintage jazz records) out her 3-storey apartment window into the street, where a seething Miguel frantically tries to recover his valuables from opportunistic children.

Neither Ana nor Miguel are innocent in this union. Both are secretly fulfilling their selfish sexual desires with indiscriminate strangers, while proclaiming their undying love for each other. There are no truths. The foundation of their love is solely built on lies. Yet, why do they insist on living this exercise of futility?

17 Days offers no real answers to that question, but their short tumultuous journey is a wild and worthwhile ride.


* This is my tribute to the Toronto International Film Festival. It is not a real film.

Click here to see last year's TIFF Inspirations.