Cleo Diarra Secures Best Actress Award in Cannes Un Certain Regard for Pedro Pinho's Ambitious Drama

Pedro Pinho’s ambitious new drama, titled “I Rest Only in the Storm” (O Riso e a Faca), made its debut at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, immediately drawing attention for its deep dive into post-colonial power dynamics. This expansive film, clocking in at 211 minutes, centers on Sérgio, a Portuguese engineer tasked with overseeing a road construction project in a bustling West African metropolis. He finds himself navigating a labyrinth of intricate power structures and complex personal relationships within this setting.

This feature marks a significant return for director Pinho, following an eight-year hiatus from filmmaking. Pinho, who co-founded TERRATREME Filmes—a company known for its socially conscious cinema—previously premiered his three-hour musical about unemployment, “Factory of Nothing,” at the Directors' Fortnight in 2017. The performance that garnered critical acclaim came from Cleo Diarra, an actress of Cape Verdean descent working in Portugal. Diarra clinched the Best Actress prize in the Un Certain Regard section for her compelling portrayal of Diara, a local market vendor. This win is historic, marking the first acting award for a Portuguese production within this specific Cannes section.

Diarra’s accolade was shared; she received the honor ex aequo alongside Frank Dillane for his work in the film “Urchin.” The jury for the 2025 Un Certain Regard section was presided over by acclaimed British director Molly Manning Walker. This recognition highlights the strength of emerging talent within the international film landscape showcased at the festival.

The narrative threads of the movie keenly examine themes of pervasive corruption and jarring cultural clashes. It sharply contrasts Sérgio’s privileged position with the harsh realities faced daily by the local populace. Principal photography for the demanding production took place across Guinea-Bissau and the Mauritanian desert, spanning from February 2022 through January 2024. This international co-production, involving Portugal, Brazil, Romania, and France, probes the asymmetries inherent in neocolonialism between Europe and West Africa.

Sérgio, functioning as an environmental engineer, arrives in the former Portuguese colony to assess the ecological impact of the proposed road construction. His very presence often serves as a potent symbol of ongoing colonial influence. The film’s stylistic choices lean heavily into lengthy, dialogue-driven sequences, deliberately challenging conventional Western perspectives on intervention and the concept of the ‘Other.’

Director Pinho employed a unique working method described as “controlled disorientation,” allowing the actors substantial room to improvise while adhering to a core dramatic intention. Furthermore, the film derives its evocative title from a musical composition by the renowned Brazilian artist, Tom Zé. The cast also features Portuguese actor Sérgio Coragem in the titular role of Sérgio, with Ivo Lopes Araújo serving as the cinematographer. Cleo Diarra’s triumph in Cannes solidifies the vitality of contemporary Portuguese cinema, which continues to deliver layered narratives concerning identity and the enduring weight of history.