The Joy

A tale about youth and courage, A Alegria tells the story of Luiza,16 years old, who is just tired of hearing about the end of the world. In a Christmas’ evening, her cousin (João) is shot in a poor neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro city, and disappears in the middle of the night. Some weeks after that, while Luiza is alone in her apartment, the girl will find a mysterious guest waiting for her in the living room: João, as a ghost, asking her to be hidden there. —Quinzaine des Réalisateurs