WOLF AT THE DOOR/ O lOBO ATRAS DE PORTA

Brazil, 2013, 100 minutes, Colour
Milhem Cortaz, Leandra Leal, Fabiula Nascimento.
Directed by Fernando Coimbra.

A Wolf at the Door is a Brazilian film based on a true story. What might initially seem sensational comes down to a domestic drama, the abduction of the little girl from school, the grief of the mother, the police interrogations, the upset of the father, his admitting that he had an affair, the revelation that the mother knew the girl from the affair, admissions and denials and the revelation of the motivation of the girl for kidnapping and killing the daughter.

1. The film based on a true story? Characters? Situations? Abduction? Death?

2. A Brazilian story, the city of Rio, homes, schools, the countryside, police stations, interrogation rooms? Authentic feel? Musical score?

3. The title, the threats to family, identification of the threats, the wolf?

4. The basic situation, the abduction of the child, the response of the mother, searching and the father, his suspicions? The police and the interrogations?

5. The little girl, age, relationship with her parents, her going to school, her being allowed to go with Sylvia?

6. The teacher, the embarrassment, the phone call, the reassurance, letting the child go, the upset, responsibilities?

7. The character of Rita, the contact with Sylvia, putting her up to the taking of the girl, the contact with the mother, her role and the humiliation of the father?

8. The mother, relationship with her husband, not knowing of his affair, her daughter, the meetings with the police?

9. The role of the flashbacks, Bernardo and his relationship with Sylvia, the detail of the affair? The mother, her meeting with Sylvia, the becoming friends?

10. Suspicions on the father, his confessing the affair, his justifying it, the detective saying he did not understand it? A male thing? The meeting with Sylvia, the attraction, her compliance, her age, life at home, her work? The sex scenes and their relationship? Bernardo and his casual approach, leaving, her reaction?

11. The revelation that she was a friend of the wife, the meetings, discussions, the daughter?

12. The worry of the parents, the revelation about the affair? The revelation about the friendship with Sylvia?

13. Sylvia, her admissions, her motivation, the search of the child – and the tragic ending?