SAUDADE
Synopsis
Laís’s journey is a testament to resilience. Arriving in Germany during the pandemic, she faced the challenge of having her diploma and professional experience unrecognized. Instead of giving up, she started anew, completing a new qualification and building a life from scratch. Her determination and strength reflects the reality of countless Brazilian women who refuse to be stopped by obstacles. This contrasts with Constanza’s idealized nostalgia for her mothers‘ homeland. Together, these stories reveal the essence of Saudade. The interplay between dreams and lived experiences, between what we long for and what we face.
Director’s note
The title, Saudade, is considered one of the hardest words in the world to translate. It describes a deeply emotional state of bittersweet nostalgia. A longing for something absent yet cherished, an ache for moments that live in our hearts but cannot return.
Creating this film was a transformative experience. It’s the first film I’ve ever made. Constanza’s perspective reflects the romanticized nostalgia many children of immigrant parents feel towards their parents‘ homeland. A longing seen through rose-tinted glasses. Meanwhile, Laís’s view embodies a more grounded reality, shaped by her lived experience and critical reflections on her migration journey.
Saudade premiered at Cine Brasil Filmfestival in Berlin (2024). Later it was shown at the DOJO Headquarter in Berlin (2024). The film was screened at the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) in Niterói, Brazil, in a final-year audiovisual class led by Professor Hadija Chalupe (2025). Saudade was screened at the festival Mostra Cineportal de Canavieras (May 2026).
TALENTS
LAÍS DE OLIVEIRA ANGELO
CÁTIA WERNECK
CONSTANZA HERRMANN
VOICE
MÁRCIA TINOCO DE MIRANDA HERRMANN
DIRECTOR & DOP
FELICIA HERRMANN DE MIRANDA
CAM OPERATOR HAIR CUT SCENE
PABLO SAHIN
CAMERA ASSISTANTS
KARIM AHMAD
HELENA KOEPPEN
JULIUS BECHER
FERDINAND KLOTZKY
GAFFER
JONATHAN GUSTIN
PABLO SAHIN
ELECTRICIANS
HELENA KOEPPEN
JULIUS BECHER
PRODUCTION
FELICIA HERRMANN DE MIRANDA
SINAN ÖZARSLAN
SOUND
KILIAN POHL
HELENA KOEPPEN
MUSIC
„O MAR SERENOU“ – BY FORMOSAH
EDIT
HELENA KOEPPEN
FELICIA HERRMANN DE MIRANDA
COLOR GRADING
JOSEF WERNICKE
KILIAN MARAZ
TECH SUPPORT
LUDWIG RENTAL GMBH
JONATHAN DEGES
POSTER DESIGN BY
FELICIA HERRMANN DE MIRANDA
