Private Desert

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1:27

Private Desert

Released Aug 26, 2022

2h 5m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

"Remember when we talked about being alone in the world?" Sara is a genderfluid blue-collar worker who lives as her male birth identity Robson by day while caring for her religious grandmother in Sobradinho, a small town in the northeast of Brazil. Daniel, who teaches in a police academy in southern metropolis Curitiba, has been placed on unpaid leave after a violent incident that's all over the news. The only thing holding him together is his online romance with Sara, whom he has never met in person. When she suddenly disappears, Daniel drives 2,000 miles across Brazil to find her. He posts Sara's picture all over town but no one recognizes her, until he receives a mysterious call from someone claiming to know her and asking to meet. What follows is a journey of the heart that will change Sara and Daniel forever. In the tradition of A Fantastic Woman and Strawberry and Chocolate, the film is both a swooning sun-baked romance and a triumphant affirmation of queer love and humanity at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly imperiled everywhere. An official selection of the Venice Film Festival and Brazil's official submission to the 94th Academy Awards®, Private Desert boasts lush cinematography and a haunting atmospheric score. You'll never hear "Total Eclipse of the Heart" the same again.

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Critics Consensus

Private Desert demands patience -- and rewards it with an affecting romance that smartly interrogates masculine stereotypes.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

There is a change of styles from the intro’s sepulchral tableaus to something more loose and fluid, and Muritiba excels at infusing his drama with subtle state-of-the-nation resonance.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 19, 2023

Full Review

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

It’s a film field with ache and passion... it offers hope rather than unending despair. T

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 1, 2023

Full Review

Tom Long

Detroit News

Muritaba avoids the obvious at every turn. Where Hollywood might turn a story like this into a vulgar piece of exploitation, in Private Desert both Daniel and Sara are conflicted, complex people...

Rated: B

Nov 3, 2022

Full Review

William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Aly Muritiba’s Private Desert is not just an intimate, erotic story of queer love; it’s a timely, urgent film of incredible importance to both Brazilian and international societies.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 13, 2024

Full Review

Nuha Hassan

Nuha Hassan (Medium)

Muritiba shows there is humanity, love, and connectedness even despite the initial difference, but honesty and sympathy are what drive this story.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

It might not be a grand romance for the ages, but Private Desert is certainly a love-story with a unique hook that will live with you after the credits roll. It’s just a shame it faffs about along the way.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2023

Full Review

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Livia

The long introduction only sets up the tone for whatnis about to happen. Beautifully done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/22

Full Review

Daniel F

A moving, heart breaking film that was beautifully realized and acted. This film is universal in its themes about belonging, loss, identity, societal bigotry and familial expectations. Both of the leads were extraordinary, and had amazing chemistry. A must see.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/22

Full Review

Daniel G

Love makes one blind or does one just not accept one's own instinct about whom to love? A nicely paced story that gives almost equal weight to the life challenges of 2 very diffferent protagonists who find each other. There are some plot holes and it was questionable if the policeman really didn't understand with whom he was interacting.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Ty N

The ending may be a stretch in terms of credibility, but it wraps the narrative effectively.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

Paul B

A little slow to take-off but its presentation of one man's daily life paints a bleak, tiresome picture of duty and frustration. By contrast, his hunt for Sara reveals a world of challenges, delight and revelation.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/23

Full Review

Jerod S

This movie doesn't "smartly investigate masculine stereotypes". It tells the story of an internet relationship built on lies with ends with ridiculously unlikely romance.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/23

Full Review

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Aly Muritiba

Director

Antonio Saboia

Daniel

Pedro Fasanaro

Robson

Thomas Aquino

Fernando

Laila Garin

Juliana

Zezita Matos

Tereza

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Private Desert: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

"Remember when we talked about being alone in the world?" Sara is a genderfluid blue-collar worker who lives as her male birth identity Robson by day while caring for her religious grandmother in Sobradinho, a small town in the northeast of Brazil. Daniel, who teaches in a police academy in southern metropolis Curitiba, has been placed on unpaid leave after a violent incident that's all over the news. The only thing holding him together is his online romance with Sara, whom he has never met in person. When she suddenly disappears, Daniel drives 2,000 miles across Brazil to find her. He posts Sara's picture all over town but no one recognizes her, until he receives a mysterious call from someone claiming to know her and asking to meet. What follows is a journey of the heart that will change Sara and Daniel forever. In the tradition of A Fantastic Woman and Strawberry and Chocolate, the film is both a swooning sun-baked romance and a triumphant affirmation of queer love and humanity at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly imperiled everywhere. An official selection of the Venice Film Festival and Brazil's official submission to the 94th Academy Awards®, Private Desert boasts lush cinematography and a haunting atmospheric score. You'll never hear "Total Eclipse of the Heart" the same again.

Director: Aly Muritiba
Producer: Antonio Gonçalves Junior, Luís Galvão Teles, Gonçalo Galvão Teles, Aly Muritiba
Screenwriter: Aly Muritiba, Henrique Dos Santos
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Muritiba Filmes, Grafo, Anacoluto, Fado Films
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 26, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.7K
Runtime: 2h 5m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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