Portugal's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards 2013.
Portugal's highest grossing film of 2011.
The final scene of Anabela Moreira and Nuno Lopes was particularly demanding for the actors given the physical, emotional and sexual violence. For the actress, it wasn't the nudity that bothered her, "but the scene was so vivid that Nuno Lopes hugged me, at the end, and apologized."
To create the film's emotional intensity, Canijo applied the method of total immersion, which has become one of his trademarks. The cast, led by Rita Blanco as Márcia and Anabela Moreira as Ivete, deeply immersed themselves in their roles, with preparation lasting for months. Rita Blanco, in particular, brings a raw strength and vulnerability to her character, becoming almost a symbol of the Portuguese mother who sacrifices everything for her family. Canijo worked with the cast in exhaustive workshops, encouraging them to live the characters' lives even outside filming to build a familiarity that resonates on screen.
The house setting, a small and oppressive space, was a crucial element that Canijo used to intensify the sense of claustrophobia and interdependence among the characters. Every detail was designed to enhance the raw, almost documentary-like quality of the narrative-from the worn-out furniture to the cramped walls, everything contributes to the feeling of confinement and a life where choices are limited.