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Atropical Energia

Three young surfers, haunted by the same ominous dream, look to the ocean for answers and refuge.

synopsis

On the eve of a perfect swell, three young surfers share the same eerie dream: a wetsuit falling through the night sky, resembling a suicide – whose, they wonder? Haunted by this vision, they set off with friends the next day to chase this swell along the desolate Portuguese coast. Gonçalo, 28, fears the dream predicts the suicide of his friend Zé, who struggles with depression. Instead of helping his girlfriend pack for their move abroad, Gonçalo convinces Zé to skip work and chase the swell like they used to. As the day progresses and the swell eludes them, Gonçalo realises the dream reveals more about his own inner turmoil than his friend’s situation. Meanwhile, Ferreira, a recent graduate, camps with friends near a secret wave, hoping to film for their new surf edit. The dream hangs over him like the fog obscuring the ocean. As they wait for the fog to clear, they play games and fantasise about their futures. Vasco, 12, is on his first surf trip with his instructor and peers. Disturbed by the dream, he wets the bed. Now, he must confront both the menacing ocean and the teasing from his peers. As the images and feelings of the dream come to life throughout the day, the characters have nowhere to run but the ocean, where they finally feel light and free – if only briefly.

Director’statement

This film draws from my early 20s, when my friends and I, unsure of our futures, took refuge in surfing like we did as kids. We escaped our duties and went in search of waves. Driving countless hours along the coast looking for the perfect wave, hoping to find it in the next bay, or the one after. But mostly hoping to find ourselves. We all looked out to the ocean with so much desire. A desire that haunted us, just as much as it seduced us. That is why I want to film with actual surfers, to capture this gaze, this haunting. On land all surfers are haunted by the freedom of their surrender out at sea. This duality makes surfers fascinating characters. And I want to go with them on this contemplative never ending search for the perfect wave. I believe it is a unique structure for a contemporary coming of age story where I can explore the timeless pains of growing up alongside today’s issues: climate change, our dying oceans, anxiety, depression, and rising suicide rates. Despite all this, these characters still run out to the sea. Can surfing save them? I believe it can.

TFL PROGRAMME:
ScriptLab 2024

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