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CLAY MEN

In a deserted amusement park, two young men, Pássaro and Marciano, come to the brink of death after an intense knife duel - a fierce confrontation that symbolizes the ancient rivalry between their families, the Tamai and the Miranda. With an air of “Romeo and Juliet”, “Clay Men” takes a bold new look at the classic story of forbidden love. Pássaro, son of the Tamai, finds himself unexpectedly attracted to Ângelo, the youngest of the Miranda family, and together they plunge into a romance that defies everything and everyone. Amid the violence and tension they inherit from their families, the two young people face an uncertain destiny as they fight for their right to love and the freedom to be who they really are. With a contemporary and visceral approach, the film explores themes of identity, guilt, passion and the search for acceptance in a divided world. “Clay Men” is a sweeping drama about the love and courage needed to break down barriers and rewrite one's own destiny.

  • Angelisa Stein
    Director
  • Fernando Musa
    Writer
  • Gonzalo Heredia
    Writer
  • Angelisa Stein
    Producer
    Loop (Bruno Bini) / Dolores (Juan Dickinson) / Zama (Lucrecia Martel) / El Ardor (Pablo Fendrik) / La Playa (Juan Andres Arango) / O Palhaço (Selton Mello) / Billi Pig (José Eduardo Belmonte) / País do Desejo (Paulo Caldas) / Harmonia (Jaime Lerner) / El Hombre de la Nevera (Vicente Tamarit)
  • Fernando Musa
    Producer
    Destino Anunciado / Un Dia en Constitución / Un Buen Dia / No Sabe, No Contesta / Fuga de Cerebros
  • Tatiana Sager
    Producer
    Coproducer
  • Javier Leoz
    Producer
    Coproducer
  • Gui Mallmann
    Key Cast
    "Pássaro Tamai "
  • Alexandre Borin
    Key Cast
    "Marciano Miranda"
  • João Pedro Prates
    Key Cast
    "Ângelo Miranda"
  • Cassiano Ranzolin
    Key Cast
    "Oscar Tamai"
  • Rafael Guerra
    Key Cast
    "Elvio Miranda"
  • Nestor Monasterio
    Key Cast
    "Man at amusement park"
  • Bruno Polidoro
    CREW
    DP
  • Bruno Carboni
    CREW
    Editor
  • Renan Franzen
    CREW
    Music Composer
  • Pauliana Becker
    CREW
    Art Director
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    HOMENS DE BARRO
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, LGBTQIA+
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 12 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    800,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Brazil
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Distribution Information
  • O2 PLAY
    Distributor
    Country: Brazil
    Rights: All Rights
  • VALKYRIA FILMS
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Angelisa Stein

Angelisa Stein is a multifaceted filmmaker, recognised for her ability to navigate and propel cinema through multiple roles: as a producer, director, and lawyer. Author of the book International Cinematic Co-Production, Angelisa has built a solid career that combines creativity and management, including her time at ANCINE, where she served as Superintendent of Foment and Director’s Advisor. She is also a lecturer in Audiovisual Production, sharing her vision and experience with a new generation of filmmakers.

Direction, Producer and Executive Producer:
Clay Men (2024) – A fictional feature film exploring themes of masculinity and human complexity set in an arid, timeless landscape.
Fremd, the FOREIGNER (2023) – A medium-length documentary that delves into the condition of the foreigner with a profound and poetic perspective.

Producer and Executive Producer:
Loop (2021, dir. Bruno Bini) – A feature film that challenges the boundaries of linear storytelling, exploring the intricate relationship between time and memory.
Dolores (2017, dir. John Dickinson) – A story of discovery and identity set against striking landscapes.

Line Producer and Assistant Producer:
Zama (Lucrecia Martel) – An internationally acclaimed work, where she collaborated with one of Latin America's most celebrated filmmakers.
El Ardor (Pablo Fendrik)
La Playa (Juan Andres Arango)
O Palhaço (Selton Mello)
Billi Pig (José Eduardo Belmonte)
País do Desejo (Paulo Caldas)
Harmonia (Jaime Lerner)
El Hombre de la Nevera (Vicente Tamarit)
A Place in the Sun (Channel 4/UK)

With a career that combines artistic sensitivity with technical strength, Angelisa Stein stands out for her projects that delve into profound themes, contributing to both Brazilian and international cinema with productions recognised for their cultural relevance and emotional impact.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Cley Men" was born from a profound experience while reading the work of Argentine writer Selva Almada, whose narrative evoked intense images and emotions within me that resonated far beyond the words on the page. The story of Pássaro and Marciano, complex characters shaped by the harshness of a violent environment, sparked in me a visceral need to translate this brutality intertwined with the tenderness of their relationship. More than just a story of love between men, the film is a testament to friendship and bonds that endure, defying the ancestral hatred between their families.

My motivation for creating "Clay Men" was to portray this experience of an inevitable and nearly tragic love. Inspired by the intensity of emotions and the way the work deals with passions, I felt the need to capture not only what is said but, most importantly, what remains hidden – the unspoken that is revealed in gestures, glances, and silences, aiming more to suggest than to directly show the actions.

The film is set in an arid and timeless landscape, where the heat of the clay is ever-present. We created a “non-place,” not only in terms of location but also in terms of space and time. The narrative and characters evoke the timelessness of Shakespearean tragedies, transported to a setting where time seems to stand still. The cinematography emphasises the intensity of colours and textures, with clay saturating the worn clothes of the characters, while the roughness of this non-place shapes everything it touches.

I hope the film transports the viewer to this universe of intense masculinities and conflicting emotions, exploring the discomfort and beauty of a story that unfolds in a brutal world, yet paradoxically filled with raw and honest sensitivity. "Clay Men" is an invitation for the audience to experience this reality where love and violence coexist, with all their complexities and contradictions.