Private Desert is a 2021 Ghosting/ Catfishing drama that brings together fly-on-the-wall moodiness, unfolding mystery, and insightful character study, with moments of emotional impact & insightful self-discovery. The Brazilian/ Portuguese production features a great & naturalistic cast, a wonderful eye for urbane atmospherics, and slow-but-captivating unfold. Here from Peccadillo Pictures- one of the key labels in LGBT World Cinema is a DVD release of the film.

Private Desert (aka Deserto Particular) was directed/co-written by Aly Muritiba- who was born in Mairi, a small town in the interior of Bahia, Brazil.  He’s been making films since 2007- with six features to his name, as well eighteen shorts, collaborations & TV episodes to his name. His feature lengths go from prison documentary C(Us)Todians (2018), teen drama Rust (2018), and dark comedy/ fantasy  Jesus Kid (2021).

The film focuses on just two characters & those who revolve around them- we have Daniel (Antonio Saboia) a masculine, but caring cop who has been suspended due to an incident at the police academy he works at. He lives with/ looks after his frail, barely talking father who was also was in the service. He also has a younger sister – who from time to time helps him look after his father. When we first meet Daniel he’s jogging late at night- with a plaster cast on his arm, as a result of the incident he was involved in. He’s voicing over his thoughts as he jogs, and it’s clear he’s in a relationship with someone who he’s deeply connected with. And when he gets home, he takes a nude selfie of his self- to send it off to someone called Sara. The first part of the two-hour film focuses on Daniel day to day life, and his several hundred-mile journey to find Sara- when she ghosts him.

The second character is Sara/ Robson (Pedro Fasanaro) who is an acne-scared & slight twenty-something man- who is rather living somewhat of a double life. He lives most of the time with his deeply religious grandmother- working in a fruit and veg wholesaler in the warehouse. Then he has a room above his openly gay Fernando (Thomas Aquino) saloon- and here he takes on the persona of Sara, interacting online/ in clubs. And his story largely takes up the second part of the film, as well as Daniel's search for Sara- which includes him postering the whole area.

Unlike a lot of Catfish-focused films- this isn’t really that concerned with the confrontation between the two. Yes, it happens & it’s impactful on both characters' lives. But ultimately this is a drama/ character study first and foremost.

Muritiba lets both of his characters sit & breathe in their environments- he doesn't elaborate or overtly explain everything that’s gone on in the past, but instead slowly reveals the characters' pasts, and their motivations- though sometimes, like life it’s self these are never fully explained.

Both leads are excellent- really selling their characters in a down-to-earth & believable manner. The small surrounding cast is also excellent too.  Muritiba managers to capture very well the mainly urban. 
& industrial landscape surrounding each of the leads. With a lot of great moody night shots.

The film runs at just over the two-hour mark. And yes, it is fairly slowly paced/ played out- but it never becomes dull or unengaging- as the way it’s filmed, and flows pulls you into the character's lives. 

Private Desert is moody, at points decidedly moving drama- which at moments had me tearing up. Yet it never plays to the cliches of this type of drama, but instead tells it story in a very naturalistic & believable manner. The film certainly deals with LGBT themes/ relationships, and at times there is a clear homoerotic tinged to the camera’s eye. But I’d say it’s a film for all- no matter your gender or prevalence- as it’s an involving character study/ drama- which makes some interesting points about faith, love, and self-belief.

Moving on to the DVD. As this is a modern film- the print looks very good/ well-defined- with the Portuguese language with easy-to-read English subtitles. On the extras side, we get around five-minute making of, and an elven minute on-screen interview with the director- this is in English. Lastly, we have A Fábrica (The Factory)- this is a 2011 short from director Aly Muritiba. It runs at just shy of the fifteen-minute mark. The film is a nicely gritty, and rather grim affair that has a rather heartwarming twist in its tail. It regards a mother going to see her son in prison, smuggling a phone inside herself for her son.  And again, it’s a well-made & compelling film- which has made me keen to see more of Mr Muritiba's work.

Private Desert is a film for those who enjoy more thought-provoking & slow-but-steadily unfolding drama- that's wonderfully acted, and alive with moody urbane visuals. I’ll most certainly keep an eye out for new projects from all involved here. To buy direct from Peccadillo Pictures head here