Ossos (1997)

In the heart of Lisbon lies Fontainhas, a desolate quarter confined by poverty, and the backdrop for Pedro Costa's riveting first chapter of a transformative trilogy, Ossos. This tale of desperation and survival unfurls as a young mother, trapped in the throes of depression, brings a new life into this crumbling world. With a heart burdened by despair and a mind clouded by suicidal thoughts, she entrusts her newborn's fate to the baby's volatile father, adding yet another layer to the bleak narrative. As the father navigates the baby through the labyrinthine alleyways of the deteriorating shantytown, the viewers are offered a hauntingly intimate tour of Fontainhas. This journey is captured through the lens of Emmanuel Machuel, whose shadowy cinematography paints an evocative portrait of a community in ruins, echoing his previous work with Bresson on L'argent. The infant, an innocent life surrounded by desolation, faces the brink of death, not once but multiple times. Rescued by his father from the clutches of a gas-filled room, he finds himself sleeping on the cold, hard streets, sustained only by the milk of charity. Driven by desperation and misguided love, he is almost sold, not once but twice, for nothing more than the hollow promise of escape from their living nightmare. Yet, amidst the pervasive despair, there is a flicker of hope. Tina, the baby's young mother, refuses to surrender to her circumstances. The sisterhood within the community rallies around her, their collective strength fueling their quest for justice. Ossos is a poignant exploration of young lives fractured by desperation, an unforgettable journey through the shadows of Fontainhas, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit amid devastation.

Ossos is a drama movie featuring Mariya Lipkina and directed by Pedro Costa.

Ossos is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.