A thrilling debut from a breakout talent, Neighboring Sounds delves into the lives of a group of prosperous middle-class families residing on a quiet street in Recife, close to a low-income neighborhood. The private security firm hired to police the street becomes the catalyst for an exploration of the neighbors’ discontents and anxieties—their feelings exacerbated by the palpable unease of a society that remains unreconciled to its troubled past and present inequities. Meticulously constructed, with unexpected compositions and arresting cuts, this ensemble film is compulsive viewing; you’re never quite sure where things are headed as it builds imperceptibly toward its stunning payoff. With his unmistakable formal gifts and acute eye and ear for the push and pull of modern life, Kleber Mendonça Filho represents the arrival of a major filmmaker.

Rotterdam Film Festival (Winner – FIPRESCI Prize)
Official Selection, New Directors/New Films 2012
Official Selection, San Francisco Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Los Angeles Film Festival 2012

“Stunning” – Melissa Anderson, Village Voice

“Thrilling” – Gavin Smith, Film Comment

“Sensational” – Dennis Lim, Artforum

“Superbly constructed, skillfully acted and beautifully lensed” – Variety