I Only Rest in the Storm
I Only Rest in the Storm, the second feature from Portuguese writer-director Pedro Pinho, follows Sérgio (Sérgio Coragem), who is hired as an environmental consultant in Guinea-Bissau to compile a critical report on the construction of a major road. As he travels across the country and interacts with various communities, it would be understandable for audiences to assume he’s another White Saviour figure, selflessly intent on doing good. But this is far from the case. Blissfully unaware of his own privilege and more interested in pursuing romantic encounters with locals, Pinho uses Sérgio’s journey to explore themes of racism and inequality in a way rarely addressed in Western cinema.
Running at a hefty three and a half hours, there’s no shortage of substance packed into the runtime. Whether it’s spending time with workers in a rice paddy or Sérgio having his outlook articulately challenged, the film’s extended length allows every scene the space it needs to breathe and become a meaningful part of the broader conversation. It’s also a beautifully shot picture that immerses viewers in the country’s stunning vistas. It’s the quieter moments – women recalling the lyrics to an old song or the protagonist paddling down a river – that often stand out as the strongest and most memorable sections.
Pinho introduces Sérgio as a mysterious figure, offering no information about his past or his motivations for taking the job. As viewers spend more time with him, however, his general indifference toward those he engages with – especially those he sleeps with – becomes a scathing commentary on race relations and the lingering remnants of colonialism. Coragem is commendable in the leading role, but it’s Cleo Diára and Jonathan Guilherme who deliver the strongest performances as friends Diára and Gui, respectively. Both are targets of Sérgio’s desire, and both regularly knock him down a peg.
With such an immense runtime, the little narrative that exists often gets lost in the minutiae, occasionally making the film feel even longer than it is. This relatively minor issue aside, Pinho’s I Only Rest in the Storm is a critical examination of race that fully immerses viewers in the nation’s vibrant culture and stunning landscapes.
Andrew Murray
I Only Rest in the Storm does not have a release date yet.
Read more reviews from our Cannes Film Festival coverage here.
For further information about the event visit the Cannes Film Festival website here.
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