Set in a city lost in time where people forget to die, director Júlia Murat’s debut feature is a leisurely contemplation of the magic in everyday life. The fictional town of Jotuomba in Brazil’s Vale do Paraíba has just 11 people left, all of them elderly. The young have either died or moved away as the region fell prey to the decline in coffee markets. Life there is sparse and repetitious, particularly for Madalena (Sonia Guedes), a widow who runs the local bakery. Then a stranger arrives. A young woman named Rita (Lisa Fávero) appears with her cameras and iPod, like a figure from another time. She asks to stay a few days with Madalena and sets up a dark room in one wing of her house. Gradually, Madalena and the villagers warm to her, posing for pictures and sharing the stories of their long lives. But Rita wants more than what they’re willing to share and eventually starts to investigate why the local cemetery is locked up. Working with the Argentine cinematographer Lucio Bonelli, Murat captures the textures of small-town life and the subtle variations in the townspeople’s daily existence. They also create beautiful images, particularly in scenes that seem to be shot with only the light of a small oil lantern. The film gradually weaves a spell that pulls viewers into this forgotten corner of the world. Found Memories established her as an exciting new presence, picking up awards at the San Sebastián, Santa Barbara, Ljubljana, Lima, Paris, RiverRun and Fribourg Film Festivals. More recently, Murat directed and wrote the romantic drama Pendular (2017) and co-wrote the thriller Shine Your Eyes (2020).

by Frank Miller