The sea provides a poignant life lesson in filmmaker Eduardo Boccaletti‘s short drama, Bijupirá. Making its World Premiere at the 2025 Avanca Film Festival, Bijupirá is a soulful and meditative exploration of quiet estrangement within a family unit, and the world at large.

Lost at Sea Gives Way for Reflection

10-year-old Tomé (Enzo Gois) spends his days on a small trawler boat with Reinaldo (Heraldo de Deus), a fisherman. Day in and day out, he watches Reinaldo, nicknamed “The King of the Sea,” tirelessly chase and catch fish, attempting to evade him. It’s a trade that supports his livelihood. One afternoon, Reinaldo catches a small, strange fish called Remora. Tomé is curious about the animal’s origins, especially because of Reinaldo’s disgust towards it. He tells Tomé it’s a useless fish that can’t be sold or eaten and is commonly found attached to whale sharks. This sentiment strongly impacts Tomé, as he forms an analogy to his own life by seeing himself as a Remora: parasitic and dependent on Reinaldo as his provider.

After reflecting on his own existence, Tomé makes the drastic decision to get on a dinghy boat and release the rope. He drifts out to sea alone, and the day quickly turns to night. Meanwhile, Reinaldo is unaware of this dangerous and potentially dire situation. Once he discovers Tomé is not on the boat, he panics and desperately tries to find him.

Director’s Statement

Says Eduardo Boccaletti: “My films have always sought to portray the feeling of being an outcast. The feeling of seeing things from the outside, a quiet estrangement from a world that feels both familiar and foreign… In Bijupirá, I was finally able to bring these universes together, translating them into images that reflect both the immensity the eyes can see and the depth the characters feel. It is, for me, a redemption and an embrace of the outsider who, at last, finds a place of belonging.”

close up of whale sharks

Takeaway

Stunning cinematography by DP Renan Benedito makes for a breathtaking visual experience. The vastness of the ocean is captured in exquisite detail and heightened by the rich, deep color grade. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring shots are the underwater closeups of the whale shark, a majestic creature that commands the screen. Backed by powerful performances by its two lead actors, Bijupirá is an intimate story about quiet encounters that define our existence.