Paulo Rocha 

Portugal
 

This is a place where fierce passions are aroused and murderous deeds committed. A dark and heavy mountainous backdrop only adds to the air of foreboding. Scripted, directed and produced by 63-year-old Portuguese director Paulo Rocha, his sixth feature, Gold River is an exploration of his own memories of the place, memories which he says have acquired a "mystical aura". 
 
Gold River tells of a bloody crime of jealousy committed by middle-aged redhead Carolina, played by Isabel Ruth. Portuguese diva Ruth appeared in the director's 1963 debut, Green Years, and in Gold River makes a splendid return to the Rocha roost as the woman who combines her work as a railway worker with a keen interest in beekeeping. The sinister element of this hobby is revealed in the movie's sticky conclusion.

Carolina is passionate and boundlessly imaginative, but is bored with her marriage to a dredger captain, Antonio, played by the iconic Brazilian actor Lima Duarte. Her delusions of grandeur lead her to harbour murderous thoughts towards her young niece, the honeyed Melita (Joana Barcia). The arrival of visionary gold salesman Ze (Joao Cardoso), a Midas-like figure, sets Carolina's passions racing and gives her the excuse to do her dark deed in a bid to escape from her dredger's drudgery.

Gold River was flowing through Rocha's thoughts for 35 years. "I'm a director who spends a lot of time prowling around places, trying to sniff out atmosphere, stories and the ghosts of all things past," says Rocha. Having released Gold River, the eclectic Rocha has turned to another type of musical, featuring, according to the director, "the politicians and transvestites of the Lisbon of the 21st century." Stephen Mackey