The Brazilian gay social-realist drama Sócrates, – the debut feature by 29-year-old Brazilian-American filmmaker Alexandre Moratto, and winner of the Independent Spirit “Someone to Watch” award will make its New York premiere later this Summer. Sócrates will premiere Wednesday, July 31 at 7pm at the Screening Room at The Center (208 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011) with a Q&A and reception with producer Ramin Bahrani immediately following the screening.
Nominated for the Independent Spirit award for Best Male Lead and the John Cassavetes award, as well as winner of multiple festival jury awards, Sócrates is a powerful and beautifully shot portrait of a 15-year-old living on the margins of São Paulo’s coast who must survive on his own in the wake of his dedicated mother’s passing. As he faces isolation because of his sexuality, his search for a decent, worthy life reaches a breaking point.
Produced by Ramin Bahrani (99 Homes, Goodbye Solo), Sócrates is the first feature produced by the Querô Institute in Brazil where it was co-written, produced, and acted by at-risk teenagers from local low-income communities, with the support of UNICEF. Above all, SOCRATES is a robust call to the power of both collaboration and storytelling.
Sócrates had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where it was nominated for a World Fiction Award. The film went on to screen at numerous festivals and has won many awards including Festival Mix Brasil (Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor); Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival (Best Fiction Film); São Paulo International Film Festival (International Jury Honorable Mention for Feature Film); Woodstock Film Festival in New York (Ultra Indie Award for Best Film); and the Miami Film Festival (Jordan Ressler First Feature Award).
In the longstanding Brazilian film tradition of social-realism drama, Sócrates is a refreshing and vigorous take on the coming-of-age tale. Fueled by breakthrough performances and accomplished filmmaking, Alexandre Moratto’s debut feature is an engrossing, beautiful story about love, sacrifice and resilience.