Dreaming of Lions | Paulo Marinou-Blanco

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‘Dreaming of Lions’ Is an Absurdist Black Comedy Inspired by Its Director’s Experiences

Greek-Portuguese writer and director Paulo Marinou-Blanco (Empty Hands, Goodnight Irene) screened Dreaming of Lions, his absurdist black comedy film, in the 10:30 p.m. slot at the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival on Friday night. But the cinema in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s Culture Square, its “new home of film,” was packed, and the audience reacted with much applause after experiencing the tragicomic rollercoaster ride that the movie provides.

Brazil’s Denise Fraga (The Other End) leads the cast of the film, which premiered at the recent Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, alongside 2022 European Film Promotion Shooting Star João Nunes Monteiro from Portugal. Asun Planas, Dinarte Freitas, António Durães, Alexander Tuji, Victoria Guerra, Sandra Faleiro, Joana Ribeiro (The Man Who Fell to Earth), and Roberto Bomtempo round out the cast.