Banzo

Set in 1907, this drama follows Dr. Afonso, who travels to a cocoa plantation on a remote island to treat servants suffering from Banzo. This condition, characterized by an overwhelming sadness and longing for home, leads many of the patients to die from suicide or starvation. Because others fear the condition might be contagious, the sick are isolated in the forest. Afonso attempts to save the group by seeking a deeper understanding of the emotional and spiritual distress affecting their souls, though he faces significant difficulty in reversing the fatal trend.

Written and directed by Margarida Cardoso, the film features Carloto Cotta in the lead role of Afonso. The supporting cast includes Hoji Fortuna, Rúben Simões, Gonçalo Waddington, Sara Carinhas, and João Pedro Bénard. This production was a collaboration between companies from Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and the Netherlands Antilles, as well as Germany. It has a total runtime of 127 minutes. Regarding audience reception, the movie holds a rating of 6.6/10 on IMDb based on 171 votes.