Agosto

The film Agosto is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ruben A., a Portuguese writer whose literary style and approach align perfectly with Silva Melo's sensibility. Ruben A. tackled themes such as isolation, existential anguish, and the rigidity of social conventions - in many ways, he exposed the hypocrisy and stagnation that dominated Portugal's bourgeoisie. Agosto is a brilliant example of this characteristic. The story focuses on the internal conflicts of the characters and the weight of the past, a recurring theme in his work that serves almost as a mirror of Portuguese history itself: a country caught in cycles of tradition and conservatism, unable to fully free itself from its constraints. His writing at times resembles a psychological dissection; he subtly yet incisively explores the fragilities and emotional ambivalences of his characters.