Between Two Villages (E)

Entre deux villages

Jaquerod, Muriel et Edouardo Saraiva Pereira

Note: There is a version with french subtitles and a special version with english subtitles

ENTRE DUAS TERRAS (BETWEEN TWO VILLAGES) tells the story of Aldeia da Luz, population 330, bound to disappear with the construction of the Alqueva dam in the south of Portugal. A new village is being built a few kilometers away as a compensation for the population.

The film focuses on the daily life of Aldeia da Luz, with its strong rural tradition and its prospect for change. From the negociations to the construction of the new houses, the film shows how the authorities and the population try to recreate the village's identity. The situation of the village of Aldeia da Luz reflects a mutating society

Filmmakers Muriel Jaquerod and Eduardo Saraiva Pereira discreetly observe the disruption caused within the small community during the various phases of the project. The camera captures the inhabitants’ reactions in their everyday conversations. Many are afraid that the village’s history and identity will get lost within the standardised structure of their new homes. Some of them keep on struggling with the architects to make them design the new houses in a more personal way. The project leaders reassure the villagers, informing them about the necessity of the operation and the improvements the project will bring to their lives. The film directors wonder how this small rural society will stomach the psychological consequences of an uprooting that seems to be a minor matter but is in fact seen by the villagers as traumatic.
Visions du Réél Nyon 2003

Note of intent

Inland Alentejo is a region threatened by a degradation process mainly caused by a lack of water. For many years the Aquelva development project has been considered, which includes the construction of a dam and an irrigation plan. In this context we focused on the village of Aldeia da Luz and on the construction of its new site. The place, the village about to disappear and the village about to exist are the protagonists of the film. We tried to find out the consequences on human relations of these changes in the rural environment.

Representing the complexity of the project the film is conceived like a mosaic. There are many characters coming from both the population and the government officials in charge of resettling the village. We had the opportunity to confront various points of view.

We followed the population day by day with their concerns and their hopes. We preferred a spontaneous presence before the camera along with dialogue situations.

As we were filming we realised that beyond Aldeia da Luz' evolution appears the reflection of our world.

Between Two Villages (E)