Neighboring Sounds – O som ao redor (2012)

Directed by: Kleber Mendonça Filho | 124 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Irma Brown, Sebastião Formiga, Gustavo Jahn, Maeve Jinkings, Irandhir Santos, WJ Solha, Lula Terra

‘Neighbouring Sounds’ offers a glimpse into the everyday life of the inhabitants of the Brazilian city of Recife. People there still live in fear and threats of crime, but that changes when a private security company offers itself to the residents. The men guard the street, and people have to get used to it at first. The relationships between people are changing and it is becoming safer. But some relationships seem never to change: the rich still have servants, the housekeepers have their own room, but they do not have access to all possessions. There is a tense atmosphere among the people, which manifests itself in larger and smaller acts of violence. Meanwhile, a mother struggles with very different problems: the neighbor’s dog barks incessantly, even at night. Everything is pulled out of the closet to quiet the beast and regain the night’s rest.

‘Neighbouring Sounds’ is a fairly long film at just over two hours. There is little dialogue and really little action. It makes the film difficult, but no less beautiful. The statues are very wide, the people are literally surrounded by the architecture, which towers high around them. The music under the film is also often absent, but when it is present it is very noticeable and added to the film with care. Industrial sounds mixed with natural sounds often form threatening tones that sing on but suddenly stop. It is a kind of musical noise, the sounds of the environment (neighbours) in a pleasant way.

Not the first film, but ‘Neighbouring Sounds’ is the first full-length fiction film by director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who received a retrospective in their program at the IFFR in 2007. His earlier short films have often been awarded. His hometown is Recife, where this story takes place. The inspiration for this story came from my own experiences, and it feels very realistic and unforced.

This is a special film for the seasoned movie viewer, who does not shy away from a long film with few words and even less action. The images are very rewarding for the persistent viewer, and the tranquility of the film is infectious. ‘Neighbouring Sounds’ tackles social issues in a nonchalant way, and as such is a surprising portrait of contemporary life in Brazil.