The Scent of Things Remembered
A Memória do Cheiro das Coisas
- Shanghai IFF 2025Golden Goblet Best Actor (José Martins)
- Sophia Awards 2026Best Actor (José Martins)
- Tangier Film Festival 2025Honorable Mention, Best Screenplay
- Oscars 2027Portugal's Official Entry, Best International Feature
Synopsis
Arménio, an octogenarian veteran of the Portuguese colonial war, is forced into a retirement home, where he meets Hermínia, a Black caregiver who will look after him. Confronted with the vulnerability of old age, Arménio is compelled to face the ghosts of his past, while an unexpected friendship blossoms between him and Hermínia. This film is a poetic and intimate portrayal of an elderly person in an institution, exploring the fragility of the human condition, the inevitability of death, and the quest for redemption. It addresses pressing issues in our society, such as the aging population and structural racism.