Outsider Pictures and Strand Releasing have announced the U.S. theatrical release of the Brazilian dystopian, futurist film Divine Love / Divino Amor by Gabriel Mascaro (Neon Bull). An unorthodox religious tale from Brazil, the film had its world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim and intense audience reactions. Divine Love is sure to surprise and provoke viewers as it begins its North American theatrical release both in theaters and virtual cinemas on Friday, November 13.
Set in the year 202, in this futurist story Joana (Brazilian star Dira Paes) uses her position in a notary's office to convince divorcing couples to stay together. Her secret weapon is "Divine Love," an evangelical cult she belongs to that mixes group therapy and a little swinging, into its more traditional prayers and bible study.
A crisis in her own marriage brings her closer to the God that is the cornerstone of her life. When Joana can't get pregnant with her husband, she prays regularly at a drive-in church, asking for a sign that she will conceive and ends up receiving a greater sign than she was prepared for.
Divine Love is an unusual take on a future religion that is full of dance parties, ritualistic orgies, cults and Evangelical Christianity, as well as a critique of today's right-wing led Brazil. Director Mascaro says, "The film takes place in a time when the majority of Brazil's population are now Evangelical, but the state still claims to be secular. It is a film that speculates the near future through an extraordinary allegory. Divine Love is a commentary on the conservative, fanatical and nationalist agenda that is spreading throughout the world and the way those that don’t espouse it, engage with it. Brazil has traditionally been referred to as a liberal and united country, where the annual Carnaval celebrations espouse the country’s diversity and cordiality. But the fact is that during the past few years, a cultural, social and political transformation led by powerful, ultra-conservative forces, has taken hold in the country.”
Divine Love has been hailed as "a lush, intricate sociopolitical commentary" (IndieWire) and “shocking, wonderfully acted and surprisingly erotic” (RogerEbert.com). The director and other talent will be doing free live stream Q&As on the film's opening weekend.
Watch the trailer:
