The Ornithologist / O Ornitólogo
International Feature Film Competition
Fernando is a lonely ornithologist heading to the remote parts of northern Portugal to find an endangered species of black stork. While kayaking down a river, he is swept away in the rapids, and the straightforward journey with its clear goal suddenly turns in a completely different direction. His rescue by two pilgrims becomes a trap, and the dense forest environment transforms into a setting for meeting characters who will guide the lost man through a transformation. As a result, when the unexpected journey ends, Fernando will never be the same again... Well known to Mezipatra's audience, director João Pedro Rodrigues plunges with his latest film into a cinematically breath-taking homoerotic essay referencing the lives of saints, especially St Anthony of Padua, through queer interpretations and visual references. Rodrigues, one of the most distinctive queer filmmakers today, won the Best Director Award at the Locarno IFF for his visionary approach and contemplative work with the film medium.
- Portugal, France, Brazil / 2016
- 118 min / DCP
- Portuguese, English, Mandarin Chinese, Mirandese, Latin
- Subtitles: English, Czech
- Directors: João Pedro Rodrigues
- Writers: João Pedro Rodrigues, João Rui Guerra da Mata
- Cast: Paul Hamy, Xelo Cagiao, João Pedro Rodrigues, Han Wen, Chan Suan
- Films Boutique
