The Heart's Root

The Heart's Root

118 mins | Drama | Oct. 18, 2000

Set in the Lisbon during the festivities of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lovers and the old town. The story is about Cato, a nationalist politician who is charismatic and unscrupulous. He obsessively pursues Silvia, a mystical and mysterious young transvestite whom he meets at the festival. When Silvia runs into Vicente, a policeman who arrests transvestites and threatens them, Silvia must look towards blackmail to save herself. Compromising photos of Cato start to emerge among opposition parties and he must do all in his power to save his political career.

The Heart's Root

118 mins | Drama | Oct. 18, 2000

The Heart's Root
Set in the Lisbon during the festivities of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lovers and the old town. The story is about Cato, a nationalist politician who is charismatic and unscrupulous. He obsessively pursues Silvia, a mystical and mysterious young transvestite whom he meets at the festival. When Silvia runs into Vicente, a policeman who arrests transvestites and threatens them, Silvia must look towards blackmail to save herself. Compromising photos of Cato start to emerge among opposition parties and he must do all in his power to save his political career.
Producers ARTE France Cinéma, RTP, Suma Filmes, Boomerang Productions, Les Films de l'Atalante
Original title A Raiz do Coração
Directors Paulo Rocha
Writers Regina Guimarães, Raquel Freire, Paulo Rocha, Jeanne Waltz

Cast

Joana Bárcia

as Sílvia

Isabel Ruth

as Ju

Melvil Poupaud

as Vicente Corvo

Miguel Guilherme

as Oscar

António Durães

as Infante

Fernando Heitor

as Roberta

Teresa Roby

as Babies' Mother

Manuel Mozos

as Young Man at the Party

Manuela de Freitas

as Mrs. Assembleia

Ana Deus

as Linda

Paulo Pinto

as Voice of Vicente Corvo