Caru Alves de Souza, a prominent Brazilian filmmaker celebrated for her award-winning work, including the Berlin Crystal Bear for her film “My Name is Baghdad,” is set to unveil her latest project, “A City for Christine.” This film will be a key highlight at the Málaga Festival’s Fund Co-Production Event (MAFF) in Spain.

About ‘A City for Christine’

‘A City for Christine’ is co-written by Alves de Souza and Nara Marinho, who previously collaborated on the series expansion of Alves de Souza’s 2013 feature, also titled “Underage,” which has been selected for Berlin 2025.

The film stars Karina Buhr as Christine, a Brazilian artist known for her multifaceted talents as a singer-songwriter and percussionist. Buhr also featured in “My Name is Baghdad,” where the film won the best film award in the Generation 14plus sidebar at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020.

Key Collaborations

The film marks a continued partnership between Alves de Souza and producer Rafaella Costa, who has been pivotal in the filmmaker’s career, including her successes with “Underage” and other notable films like Tata Amaral’s “Bring It Inside” and “Express Kidnapping.” Costa also produced Lillah Halla’s “Levante,” which won a Fipresci Prize at Cannes Critics’ Week.

Film Synopsis and Themes

The narrative of “A City for Christine” encapsulates a profound exploration of female agency as it tells the story of Christine, a woman escaping domestic violence, who wanders through São Paulo. During her journey, she encounters other women who challenge her understanding of urban life from various perspectives, including gender, race, and class, highlighting the deep-seated issues surrounding violence against women.

The film initiates significant questions: “Do cities have gender?” and “What would urban environments look like if designed by and for women?” Alves de Souza elaborated that the project seeks to address the Right to the City, asserting that everyone should contribute to and inhabit urban spaces in a dignified manner. She critiqued the exclusionary nature of large urban centers, which often commodify both spaces and human connections.

Current Status of the Project

‘A City for Christine’ has successfully secured funding from the 2022 BRDE/Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual (FSA) through a public tender, covering approximately 80% of the film’s total budget. Currently, the project is in the research, fundraising, and screenplay development stages. During the Malaga Festival, Costa and Alves de Souza aim to attract investors, distributors, and international partners.