The Farm

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Narrative

Leo Villares

Genre: Dark Comedy
Duration: 18:00

Language: English | Portuguese

Co-production: picloc. (UK) | Volta Filmes (Brazil)

"After his girlfriend surprises him with a trip to a wellness retreat in Brazil, an anxious cynic must protect his fragile relationship from a meddling guru."

Aesthetica Short Film Festival - Official Selection (2024)

Bolton International Film Festival - Official Selection (2024)

Brest European Short Film Festival - Audience Award Winner (Prix du Public 2024)

Novella Film Festival - Best Fiction Winner (2024)

Director's Notes - Official Selection (2024)

Tweetfest - Official Selection (2024)

Short Stop International Film Festival - Official Selection (2024)

Cornwall Film Festival - Official Selection (2024)

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

The Farm is a film about openness and empathy triumphing over cynicism. I want to tell the story of an extreme pessimist opening their eyes to a new perspective on life. This is the journey of a risk-averse car insurance salesman learning to be vulnerable – and inadvertently joining a wellness cult in the process.

I'm an Anglo-Brazilian, and throughout my life this culture clash has been a great source of both comedy and drama. Through the opposite characters of Calvin and Hanna, I want to satirise the archetypal story of the gringo-colonizer going to 'find themselves' in South America.

Most of all, I hope the film will remind us that it’s healthy to lose control once in a while.

Breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs!