Private Project

ALÉMkhush

In a rural setting, silent and as inhospitable as it is soothing, we see faces that are familiar to us from other parts of the world. Bringing
all the strength of work, hope and unknown flavors, many put down roots, family and routines in Portugal.
ALÉMKHUSH brings a happy vision of some who have stayed here and chosen the countryside over the big cities. A contrast between the
inhabitants of these villages and the new inhabitants, communication and the awakening of curiosity about these cultures.

  • Marina Leonardo
    Director
  • Tutul
    Key Cast
  • João Calvário
    Key Cast
  • Rajib Singh
    Key Cast
  • Avtar Singh Maan
    Key Cast
  • Ajaib Singh
    Key Cast
  • Davinder Singh
    Key Cast
  • Sr. João
    Key Cast
  • Carla Domingos
    Key Cast
  • Gagandeep Singh Chattha
    Key Cast
  • Jagdev Singh
    Key Cast
  • Manpreet Singh Multani
    Key Cast
  • Kulwinder Singh
    Key Cast
  • Jack "Pode ser"
    Key Cast
  • Rogério Leonardo
    Key Cast
  • Olinda Figueiras
    Key Cast
  • Rita Leonardo
    Key Cast
  • Diana Leonardo
    Key Cast
  • Marina Leonardo
    Key Cast
  • Augusto Pereira
    Key Cast
  • Mafalda Marafusta
    Key Cast
  • Sofia Gomes
    Editing and color
  • Marina Leonardo
    Editing and color
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    ALÉMkhush
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    28 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Portugal
  • Language:
    English, Hindi, Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, FullHD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Escola Superior Artística do Porto
Director Biography - Marina Leonardo

Marina Leonardo, Portugal, 1993. Artist who works as a performer in theatre and cinema, directing and screenwriting. She is studying for a Master's Degree in Film and Television Directing at the Escola Superior Artística do Porto. She has a degree in Theatre from the University of Évora and in Physical and Visual Theatre from the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona. She was one of the representatives of the École des Maîtres project, directed by Angélica Liddell in 2019. She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of the Buganvílias Collective, where she initiated writing processes, directs and produces shows that cross theatre, cinema and sculpture. As a creator, she explores the boundaries between imagination and memory in an interdisciplinary practice addressing themes such as post-humanism, the future, secrecy and the body. She directed "Madness and Civilization - Michel Foucault" (video-performance) in 2019; "TUVALU or the Disappearance of Things" (videoperformance) and ZOOM IN (short fiction film) in 2023; "ALÉMkhush" (documentary) and "the space that exists between one thing and another" (short fiction film) in 2024. She starred in the films "Rapariga Projetada" by Francisco Noronha, 2024; "Por Detrás da Porta" by Carolina D'Antas 2024; "Terra Amarela" by Dinis M Costa, 2018.

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Director Statement

Over the decades, Portugal has been both a country of departure and arrival for countless migrants, shaping its demographics, culture and economy. However, it is in recent decades that we have seen a change in the migratory profile, with the arrival of immigrants from diverse backgrounds, such as Brazil, Ukraine, Romania, China, India and Bangladesh. Attracted by a variety of factors such as job opportunities, political stability, security and quality of life, climate. This diversity has brought with it a wealth of cultures, traditions and perspectives that have enriched us in many ways, as well as challenges such as the difficulties of integration, cultural diversity and xenophobia.
For me, there's an urgency to talk about immigration, there's an urgency to approach the subject from different perspectives and there's an urgency to amplify the voice of those who really know what it's like to arrive in a country, to work in that country, to be away from family and to conquer a place where you can live with dignity, respect and friendship. In ALÉMKHUSH, I closely explore the stories and experiences of some immigrants from Bangladesh and India who found in rural Portugal not only a place to live, but also a place to thrive, create and be happy. With the dangerous proximity we have come to extreme right-wing policies, there is an increasing need to develop these themes and to represent their stories without decontextualized media climaxes.
I've always grown up very close to this reality, in Alcobaça, where I lived until I was a teenager, and in the Alentejo, where I was born. My family formed relationships with people, especially from Bangladesh and India, who came to our village to work in the fields and in the region's agricultural industry. Over the years, some of these relationships have become strong friendships and mutual aid relationships, and some have become success stories and achievements.
It's a film about help, love, family, place, in a rural setting, with the visual powers that the countryside brings and the richness of the relationships that are created in smaller contexts.