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Kites

Play trailer Poster for Kites 2025 1h 25m Crime Drama Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Duvo has lived all of his 25 years in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. His young life has been complicated, marked by the inherent violence of the gangs he's been involved with. But his world is also a magical one -- a world where you can speak with your guardian angel, where your guardian angel not only looks out for you but uses their experience to counsel. Duvo's guardian angel is Phil, a young man not unlike Duvo, who was a victim of police violence. As Phil sees Duvo's sincere desire for peace, change and redemption from his crime bespotted past, an opportunity arises when a community kite festival in the favela is cancelled and Duvo steps up to revive the event. Redemption is on the horizon for Duvo -- as is his understanding of himself and the world around him.

Critics Reviews

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Murtada Elfadl Variety Jun 16
With “Kites,” Thompson-Hernandez demonstrates that he can balance multiple genres within a single narrative. The film is both gritty and realistic, like the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, while also being a sweet story with surreal touches. Go to Full Review Carla Hay Culture Mix Jun 26
Kites is the cinematic equivalent of a dream-like poem, where fantasies and realities collide but never crash disastrously. This drama about of an 'at risk' young man and his guardian angel is more about introspection than action. Go to Full Review Stephen Saito Moveable Fest Jun 12
The most remarkable quality of the film is its capacity to find both pleasure and pain in getting lost in a place where the natural beauty can be overwhelming but a future can be hard to see and tragedy has been absorbed as a normal part of being there. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Walter Thompson-Hernández

Director

Daniel Fernando do Prado Dorea Lima

Actor

Phillipe Augusto da Silva Souza

Actor

Larissa Borges

Actor

Thiago Oliveira

Actor

João Vittor Pedroza

Actor
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Kites

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Movie Info

Synopsis Duvo has lived all of his 25 years in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. His young life has been complicated, marked by the inherent violence of the gangs he's been involved with. But his world is also a magical one -- a world where you can speak with your guardian angel, where your guardian angel not only looks out for you but uses their experience to counsel. Duvo's guardian angel is Phil, a young man not unlike Duvo, who was a victim of police violence. As Phil sees Duvo's sincere desire for peace, change and redemption from his crime bespotted past, an opportunity arises when a community kite festival in the favela is cancelled and Duvo steps up to revive the event. Redemption is on the horizon for Duvo -- as is his understanding of himself and the world around him.
Director
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Producer
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Screenwriter
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Genre
Crime, Drama, Fantasy
Original Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Runtime
1h 25m