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Opará - the faces of the river

The São Francisco River is a 100% Brazilian river of immense importance and controversy, from transposition to silting. Much is said about the river, but little about the faces that inhabit its banks. Opará tells the story of 8 characters who live along the banks of the São Francisco River. A fisherwoman from the mouth, an indigenous musician from the country, a black leader from Bahia, a grape producer from Petrolina, a steam pilot from Pirapora, a peasant poet, a hotel owner from the spring, and a popular artist from the caatinga, narrate their unique stories. Despite having completely different lives from each other, they all share a common interest, the dependence and the love for the São Francisco River. A film that shows that people with completely different lives can have connections that unite them and make them belong to the same interests.

  • Tiago Ferraro
    Director
  • Tiago Ferraro
    Writer
  • Fernanda Kiehl
    Producer
  • Anderson Massambani
    Editor Chief
  • Sara Garcia
    Editor
  • Renilda Dupin
    Key Cast
  • Valtenir Pereira Vargas
    Key Cast
    "Yohan"
  • Vanessa Madureira Vieira
    Key Cast
  • Simplício Arcanjo Rodrigues
    Key Cast
  • Francisco de Assis Nunes da Silva
    Key Cast
  • Gean Ramos
    Key Cast
  • Rejânia Souza Rodriguez
    Key Cast
  • Josenilda Gomes Barbosa
    Key Cast
    "Dinha"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Faces do Velho Chico
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Social, Human interest, real life story
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 15, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    Brazil
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    DSLR Sony
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Tiago Ferraro

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, I moved to London when I was 19 years. Made my way from a moto delivery guy who didn't speak English to a first-class graduated at the University of Greenwich. After travelling for 5 years consecutively through many parts of the world, I started to film stories which interested me. I have filmed the nomads in Kyrgyzstan, the women in Pakistan, a Brazilian village in Iran, and most recently, the people who lived in the most important river in Brazil.
I studied Documentary at the AIC (International Academy of Cinema) as well as short courses on DOP at the IC (Institute of Cinema, both in São Paulo.
As a still photographer, I have exhibited in the United Kingdom, Italy and Brazil.

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Director Statement

The São Francisco River is the most important river in Brazil. It is the largest river that has its source and mouth in Brazilian territory. Also, it was through it that Brazil started the colonization period. In fact, it was the only way to connect the northeast to the southeast of Brazil until not so long ago.
Much is said about the river. The transposition of its water, the many dams constructed and the imminent death from silting. However, not so much is said about the people who live by this river. In fact, the generalisation concept the riverbank people live similarly is the idea this film aims to break. The film shows how the lives of 8 people who live by the river is completely different from one another, yet they all share the same dependency and love for the river.