Brazil in Locarno: ‘The Riverbank’ sets Recife’s mangroves against the gospel of power

Backed by Pernambuco’s unique film ecosystem, debut filmmakers Enock Carvalho and Matheus Farias turn a queer romance into a haunting exploration of faith, politics and Brazil’s cinematic margins. They spoke to Swissinfo as the film contends for the main prize at Locarno Film Festival. Where the Capibaribe River meets the concrete shores of Recife, the Brazilian northeastern capital of Pernambuco, it becomes a muddy swamp. Somewhat isolated from the frenzy of city life, this swamp is a point of…