This is a foreign film that is visually intimate and worth seeing

Private Desert is a Brazilian drama about a search for identity and masculinity in Brazilian culture. The main character, Daniel, played by  Antonio Sabola, is a policeman recently furloughed for abusive behavior as an instructor at the police academy. He has been seeking solace with an online girlfriend and embarks on a search to find her. This becomes an emotional journey of self-discovery.

His 2000-mile journey across Brazil takes him to a different world. When he discovers his girlfriend, Sara, he is forced to face his behavior and his role as a man in the Brazilian culture. Sara, played by Pedro Fasanora, is a gender-fluid person living in a small rural town. Daniel’s interactions with Sara and her community force him to explore his self-image as a man.

Private Desert is a moving character study written and directed by Aly Muritiba. Many moving interactions between family members of both major characters were captured in the film. The film was visually engaging and intimate, and its intense moments were portrayed very beautifully. Paced slowly, the characters were incrementally developed and ultimately were totally engaging. The viewer is constantly evaluating and reevaluating the characters and their actions.

Private Desert is a movie for people who enjoy foreign language films.