Death and Life Madalena

Morte e Vida Madalena

Guto Parente’s dryly witty film sees a heavily pregnant woman take the reigns of a kitsch B-movie juggernaut, with startling results.

Screening dates and booking

Check which tickets are still available across the festival – and find out about extra ticket releases and standby queues.

Credits

  • Director-screenwriter

    Guto Parente

  • With

    Noá Bonoba, Tavinho Teixeira, Nataly Rocha

  • Brazil-Portugal 2025. 85min

  • Courtesy of

    Lights On

  • Language

    Portuguese

    With English subtitles

Introduction

Madalena’s legendary producer father recently died and the director of his final sci-fi epic has fled from the shoot. Nothing if not stoic, Madalena is deadly serious about cinema and steps in to steer the production. With an impressive queer and trans cast, this is a wild ride through the mayhem of movie making.

Zorian Clayton

Content advice

Contains flashing images.

How to book

BFI Flare tickets start from £10, with concessions available for many screenings and discounts for BFI Members. Booking information and ticket prices.

If you’re aged 16 to 25, sign up for free to BFI 25 and Under for a chance to get £6 tickets to all screenings and events (subject to availability).

Missed out?

More tickets may become available for these screenings before and during the festival. Find out about extra ticket releases and standby queues.

Our programmers recommend...

Having the Last Laugh

When life gives you lemons, laughter is a tonic. Here are trans tales of levity, liberation and looking for love, featuring fundraising sexcapades, gender-flipping frolics and bodily autonomy in abundance.

Read more about Having the Last Laugh

Lunar Sway

In this offbeat comedy, a bi guy in a desert town receives a surprise visit from his con-artist birth mother, with chaos ensuing.

Read more about Lunar Sway

Satisfaction

Alex Burunova movingly explores the complex relationship between two British composers.

Read more about Satisfaction