Laura

A thriller adapted from a play presented on BBC Radio 4 by renowned English author Dawn King, this Portuguese version is a film about obsessive love in our modern world of constant communication, set almost entirely in telephone conversations. In a large Brazilian city, Laura, in her early 30s, has just separated from her married lover, Ben, and agrees to go out with Noah, whom she met on an online dating site. What follows is a story about not accepting the end of a relationship and the fact that the other party has no interest in continuing. The twists and turns in the story show the psychological and physical dangers that lurk in modern relationships and that end up not ending well for anyone.

Directed by Jonathan Albert Murphy, Laura leans on a strong ensemble — Eucir de Souza, Priscila Sol, Yoram Blaschkauer — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2017.