Directed by Maya Da-Rin
Written by: Pedro Cesarino, Maya Da-Rin
Starring Regis Myrupu, Rosa Peixoto, Johnatan Sodré
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Not Rated
In virtual cinemas Mar. 19

by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

If you are interested in a film that highlights Indigenous stories and actors while exploring folklore and Brazilian tribal culture be on the lookout for The Fever. A Febre (The Fever) is about a man named Justino (Regis Myrupu) from the Desana tribe of Brazil. Like many Indigenous people, he has come to the city to find work and make money. Justino works as a guard at a cargo port to support his family. He has just suffered from the loss of his wife and now his daughter Vanessa (Rosa Peixoto) is planning on moving away to medical school. These events have made him feel distant from his city and from his native people. Once he is plagued by a mysterious fever and strange dreams, it is clear something in Justino’s life needs to change.

Director Maya Da-Rin was inspired to create this film while directing some documentaries about Indigenous tribes. This is also why the choice was made to cast the film with Indigenous people. Regis Myrupu is from the Tukano people. Rosa Peixoto, the other star of the film comes from the Tariano people. The area of Brazil the film takes place has over groups 20 different ethnic groups that inhabit the Upper Rio Negro region of the country. Although they have their own languages, many of them speak Tukano which is the only other language spoken in the film besides Portuguese. This attention to detail truly elevated the story of the film. Both the leads had not been in too many roles before this but it was clear the most important part of the film was finding the right people who were also indigenous to the area. It is refreshing to see directors make these considerations while working on a film. Both actors brought their family history and culture into the story making it even more emotional.

This film is a real slow burn. It is filled with many slow takes and repetitive events. This sometimes made it hard to feel connected to the film, especially when trying to figure out what is going on. However, the characters had such a dynamic screen presence that made seemingly mundane moments hard to look away from. There are several scenes around the dinner table where the families sit and share memories and folk tales from their people. They remember hunting, fishing, and collecting honey from bees. All of it is so beautiful and warm and gives insight into how much life has changed for them. Life is more expensive, hunting is harder, and children do not necessarily want to live out the lives their parents did. The pain and sense of loss in these moments of conversation are palpable. Some of the folklore aspects mixed with the dreams of Justino create a sense of atmosphere and sense of mystery to the whole story. Knowing very little about different kinds of tribal folklore, it piqued my interest in trying to find more of these stories.

Much of the brilliance in storytelling is due to the two amazing lead performances. Regis Myrupu brings so much to the character of Justino, a man away from home surrounded by people who do not understand him and refer to him as “The Indian”. As his daughter plans her move for school it is clear that this loss of family and home are integral to the mysterious fever that doctors cannot seem to identify. The subtle shifts in his communication between talking to medical professionals, and co-workers compared to his family makes it clear how uncomfortable he feels in this city full of people who are not apart of his tribe. Oftentimes his dry delivery of lines adds a layer of humor to the scenes, he is clearly a disgruntled older man unhappy with his current situation.

Then there is also Rosa Peixoto as Vanessa who clearly does not want to leave her father all alone but cannot pass up the opportunity to go to medical school on a scholarship. It is obvious her family does not understand especially since they do not trust most Western medicine, and want her to settle down, have a family, and continue on their tribal lineage. Her attempts to take care of her father by giving him medicine and taking blood for testing are moments where she is trying to show him what she has learned and how she can better take care of him, but he is reluctant to understand. Although it is clear they love each other it is obvious they do not completely understand each other. Their relationship in the film is full of the real complicated nuisances of a father and daughter who struggle to communicate.

This film felt a lot like a mood piece, audiences may be disappointed in how much is left for them to figure out on their own. However, it is a great piece to let wash over you especially since the imagery and filmmaking aspects are quite beautiful. The city is completely surrounded by rainforest and they consistently show shots of nature. That mingled with the daily goings-on of the folks in the street market, fish yards, and hospital creates a sense of how the people of the community live. In that respect, you can see how Maya Da-Rin has a background in documentary film work making this even more of a uniquely layered film. The director of photography, Barbara Alvarez, shot an incredible-looking film that is both haunting and beautiful.

While there was much that was new and foreign to me as a viewer, there are so many aspects of the film that have universal themes we can all attach to. Moving away from home, missing our roots, dealing with the loss of loved ones, and the ever-changing technological world. While I am uncertain if I entirely understood the ending of the film I found the look, feel, and acting to be something that sat with me. The Fever is a spellbinding and thoughtful story with plenty of heart.