Alma Viva
by Cristèle Alves Meira
Out of Competition 2022
Official synopsis
Like every summer, little Salomé returns to her family's village, nestled in the Portuguese mountains, for the holidays. Just as the holiday begins, her beloved grandmother suddenly dies. While the adults argue about the funeral, Salomé is haunted by the spirit of that woman who was considered a witch.
The programmer’s eye
A true family fresco, “Alma Viva” draws its essence from an unfathomable feminine power, whose trappings become mystical for the one and diabolical for the others. Cristèle Alvès Meira is a master at bringing to life this Portuguese village where old resentments end up resurfacing, and she talentedly films grieving siblings. In the role of Salomé, Lua Michel offers an impressive performance.
Aurélie Oria-Badoc
Biography and Filmography
A trained actress, Cristèle Alves Meira started off as a theatre director. Shot in Cape Verde, her first documentary, “Som & Morabeza” (2007) examined the issue of immigration in Portuguese-speaking areas of Africa through the theme of music. She then looked at Angolan youth to try and show their social reality in “Born in Luanda” (2010), before directing two short fiction films: “Sol Branco” (2014) and “Campo de Víboras” (2016). Cristèle Alves Meira shot “Tchau-Tchau” in 2020, her latest short film, selected at the FIFIB in Bordeaux (Best Short Film Award), in Clermont-Ferrand and at Côté Court Pantin. “Alma Viva” (2022) is her first feature film.
2022 : ALMA VIVA - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2020 : TCHAU-TCHAU (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2019 : INVISÍVEL HERÓI (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2016 : CAMPO DE VÍBORAS (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2014 : SOL BRANCO (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2010 : BORN IN LUANDA - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2007 : SOM & MORABEZA - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
Cristèle Alves Meira, Laurent Lunetta
Lua Michel, Ana Padrão, Jacqueline Corado…
Fluxus Films, Midas Filmes, Entre Chien et Loup, Mathematic, Les Films Pelléas, Studio Exception, Belga Production
Tandem
Kinology
Amine Bouhafa
by Cristèle Alves Meira
A trained actress, Cristèle Alves Meira started off as a theatre director. Shot in Cape Verde, her first documentary, “Som & Morabeza” (2007) examined the issue of immigration in Portuguese-speaking areas of Africa through the theme of music. She then looked at Angolan youth to try and show their social reality in “Born in Luanda” (2010), before directing two short fiction films: “Sol Branco” (2014) and “Campo de Víboras” (2016). Cristèle Alves Meira shot “Tchau-Tchau” in 2020, her latest short film, selected at the FIFIB in Bordeaux (Best Short Film Award), in Clermont-Ferrand and at Côté Court Pantin. “Alma Viva” (2022) is her first feature film.
2022 : ALMA VIVA - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2020 : TCHAU-TCHAU (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2019 : INVISÍVEL HERÓI (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2016 : CAMPO DE VÍBORAS (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2014 : SOL BRANCO (SHORT) - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2010 : BORN IN LUANDA - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter
2007 : SOM & MORABEZA - Cristèle Alves Meira - Director and Screenwriter