Down to Earth (1994) ( Casa de Lava )

Down to Earth (1994) (DVD) (*)

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Original Title: Casa de Lava
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Thessaloniki Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
Portuguese ( Dolby Digital Stereo )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
105 min + 51 min extras

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.66:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Booklet
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1994 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
Portugal ( Spain, Portugal )

Directed By:
Pedro Costa

Written By:
Pedro Costa

Actors:
Inês de Medeiros ..... Mariana (as Inês Medeiros)
Isaach De Bankolé ..... Leão
Edith Scob ..... Edite
Pedro Hestnes ..... Edite's Son
Cristiano Andrade Alves ..... Tano
Antônio Andrade ..... Kilim
Daniel Andrade ..... Nhelas
Manuel Andrade ..... Tcheka
Raul Andrade ..... Bassoé
Joaquim Antunes ..... Pilot 1
Monica Calle ..... Enfermeira em Lisboa
Joaquim Carvalho ..... Pilot 2
Luís Miguel Cintra ..... Actor convidado
Isabel de Castro ..... Actriz convidada
João Gomes de Pina ..... Bassora
Sandra do Canto Brandão ..... Tina
António Lopes ..... Betinho
João Medina ..... Dr. Medina
Clotilde Montron ..... Market Girl
Alina Montrond ..... Alina
Sidónio Pais ..... Sidónio Pais da Amadora
João Gomes Pina ..... Bassora
Amália Tavares ..... Tarrafal Cook

Synopsis:

A nurse accompanies a comatose injured man back to his home on the island of Cape Verde - a virtually unhabited Portuguese colony off the coast of Africa - to hand his care over to family. However, on arrival no-one seems to know who he is. As she waits for someone to turn up, the young nurse gets increasingly involved with the mysterious community and intrigue mounts.
Pedro Costa's second feature is a dense and ingeniously metaphoric take on Tourneur's I Walked With A Zombie - another unique and startling film from one of the most singular and important filmmakers working today. The DVD is presented from a brand new HD master created especially for this release by the director. Extras include an exclusive interview with Pedro Costa on Casa de Lava; interview with cinematographer Emmanuel Machuel and a new visual guide to the film created by director Pedro Costa especially for this release. Plus a new essay by renowned critic and author Jonathan Rosenbaum.

This rather esoteric Portuguese-French drama is filled with poetic imagery. It is notable for it's beautiful photography as it follows a devoted nurse from her Portuguese home to the strange Cape Verde islands. Mariana is the nurse assigned to care for the injured immigrant worker Leao who is in a coma. With him she returns to his Cape Verde village. She was dissatisfied with her currently depressing life and willingly went. She begins to feel almost claustrophobic in the grim environment as she encounters a series of disturbing characters who drag her deeper into their depressing and hopeless lives. Mariana begins to reevaluate her former life.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 14 October, 2012.