Aly Muritiba’s “Deserto Particular” (Private Desert) has been chosen as Brazil’s official selection in the Best International Film category for the Academy Awards in 2022.

It tells the story of 40-year-old Daniel (Antonio Saboia), who has been suspended from active police work in Curitiba, in the south of Brazil, and is under internal investigation for violence. When Sara, his internet love affair, stops answering his texts he decides to drive north to the interior of Bahia in search of her, starting on what is apparently a fool’s errand. He shows Sara’s picture around, but nobody seems to recognise the woman, until eventually one man says he can put the two in touch but under very specific conditions.

The film premiered and was very well received at the Venice Film Festival in September in Venice Days (Giornate degli Autori). It will open in Brazil on 25 November.