Written and directed by Fernanda Salgado, after her grandmother’s death, Ana finds herself adrift. Following the clues left by her late grandmother, Ana arrives in Belo Horizonte and meets Alice. As they make sense of the city’s layout and their memories, Ana and Alice will discover what it means to become who they are. Voiced by: Jéssica Pierina, Zezé Motta and Carlos Francisco.
Many filmmakers would have simply chosen live action to tell this story; one of grief, identity, family and rediscovery, but Fernanda Salgado instead chose animation, and it was a wonderful choice. The tone of Ana, en passant is immediately soulful, it holds such a heartfelt presence and is genuinely gentle. It delivers its emotional tale in a way that’s calm, contemplative and collected, while its characters may not perfectly keep their composure, Salgado’s style does, which adds a great depth.
Choosing animation for this story is not the only way that Salgado steps away from the norm, the animation itself is original and unusual. It crafts an intriguing range of textures and movements, employing unexpected materials and backgrounds to create something that feels like it’s being built right then before your eyes. It unfolds itself, blends different styles, and moves in a nostalgic fashion.
It holds a compelling rhythm, enveloping itself into a poetic atmosphere, each choice feels very purposeful and thoughtful. Ana, en passant is filled with colour and creativity, something which is then nicely supported by the voice work. Each of the actors do a wonderful job of matching the empathetic, gentle nature of the film. Of course, no one more succinctly than Jéssica Pierina who voices both Ana and Alice, it’s almost a strange thing to have such a bond created by one voice but unquestionably there is such a great connection and unspoken understanding between the two of them.
Ana, en passant is creative, compassionate, colourful, touching and tender. The animation style is delightfully and endearingly original, it makes a lot of unusual choices with texture and movement that so perfectly fit its tone. It moves in a genuinely thoughtful manner, it’s driven by emotion but forever holds its composure. It’s a moving, intriguing and empathetic experience, and a lovely way to create a story of grief that is interlaced with a feeling of adventure and rediscovering beloved memories.
