Clara (Braga) is a 65 year-old retired journalist and widow. She lives in an apartment on Boa Viagem Avenue, where she raised her three children and has lived most of her life. Planning on developing new real estate in the area, the owners of a construction company have already acquired almost all units in the coveted Aquarius building – except Clara’s. Her refusal to sell the place she calls home sets off a series of threats intended to force her into changing her mind.

Although the real estate struggle is a current issue for many Australians, this particular story happens in Recife, in Northeastern Brazil. The premise may remind Australian audiences of The Castle, but Aquarius is no comedy: it is a film about empathy, nostalgia, and about learning – or not – and how to let go.

Aquarius was launched during political unrest in Brazil, and much of the talk about director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film focused on his political views, instead of the movie itself. Despite the polemic, the movie has won awards at film festivals all around the world, and was nominated for the Palme D’Or in Cannes last year.