Manas

Thirteen-year-old Tielle is one of five children from a poor family. They live on the Tajapuru River in the Amazon rain forest. Her father abuses her, but Tielle is trying to regain control over her own body and sexuality. When she discovers that her younger sister is suffering the same fate, she takes action. 

Manas is a harsh, powerful, yet also beautiful film, with stunning cinematography and impressive performances by the young girls. The camera follows the characters closely, drawing the viewer deep into the story, making the painful sense of helplessness and passivity palpable. The weighty subject matter is handled skillfully: the film does not depict violence but instead rather builds up the tension and implies it.