Portrait of a Certain Orient

Based on the homonymous book by Milton Hatoum, Portrait of a Certain Orient follows two siblings, Emilie and Emir, who decide to flee the war in Lebanon in 1949 in search of a new life in Brazil. During the journey, Emilie falls in love with Omar, a Muslim merchant. Driven by jealousy and religious prejudice, Emir tries to separate them, triggering a violent confrontation. Amid memories, passions, and resentments, the film—selected for the 2024 Rotterdam Film Festival—paints an intimate portrait of the Lebanese immigration experience in Brazil.