The Policewoman

The Policewoman (Portuguese: Mulher Polícia) is an independent Portuguese drama film directed by Joaquim Sapinho, produced at Rosa Filmes.

Reception

The film had its world premiere in 2003, at the Berlin International Film Festival. Was part of the oficial selection of inumerous film festivals, like the Edinburgh Film Festival or the Pusan Film Festival. Received in the Lecce European Film Festival the award for Best Film and Best Photography.^[1]

Production

The Policewoman was shot around Sabugal, Portugal, Sapinho's birthplace. Released in 2003, The Policewoman was shot while Sapinho was in the editing process of his feature documentary Bosnia Diaries, shot a couple of years before in Bosnia douring the Yugoslav Wars. Bosnia Diaries would end only be released in 2005, as the two films were post-produced simultaneously, influenciating each other, both in style and theme, being the darkness, realism and harshness of The Policewoman clearly echoes of the Bosnian War experienced by Sapinho. The experience of war would cause a great change on his vision of the world, leading him, when shoting The Policewoman, to discover in Portugal things he thought had only happened in Bosnia in consequence of the war, making him realize that, after all, they were also happeing in his native town in consequence of the economic transformations imposed by capitalism via the European Union.^[2]

Plot

The film tells the story of a mother and a son from the interior of Portugal that run away to Lisbon to avoid being separated by the state institutions that want to take the child away from the mother.

Cast

• Amélia Corôa as Tânia
• Luduvic Vieira as Rato
• Maria Silva as Liliana
• Vítor Norte as the Truck Driver
• Ana Nave as the Police Woman

References

External links

• The Policewoman official page at Rosa Filmes web site (click on "ENG", then on "DIRECTORS", then on "JOAQUIM SAPINHO", then on "THE POLICE WOMAN")
• The Policewoman at IMDb