When the smoke from the forest fires turns the day into a literal "dark day," two strangers in a small apartment become each other’s only anchor. This film is a powerful, unpolished look at survival and the quiet strength we find in others.
That Dark Day (2022): Finding a quiet connection while the world falls apart
That Dark Day (Naquele Dia Escuro) is one of those films that stays with you because it captures a very specific, heavy atmosphere. It is set in Sao Paulo on that day in 2019 when the smoke from the Amazon fires reached the city, turning the sky pitch black at 3 PM. It is the perfect setting for Fabio, a young trans man who is already living through his own personal darkness after his boyfriend, Victor, was taken away.
A connection in the quiet
The heart of the movie is the relationship between Fabio and Louise, the elderly woman he is looking after. Miguel Filpi is great as Fabio—he has this very subtle, grounded way of showing his pain. He isn't making big dramatic speeches; you just see it in the way he handles the daily rituals of caregiving. Isabelle Lenoble is also fantastic as Louise. Even though she is the one who is physically failing, she becomes a kind of anchor for Fabio. They are both isolated, and they find this unexpected comfort in each other while the world outside is screaming.
The world outside the window
What I liked about this short film is how it uses background noise—news reports and radio talk about politics and social tension—to remind us of the chaos outside. It makes the quiet moments in the apartment feel much more vital. It’s not a fast-paced film, and it doesn't try to sugarcoat the reality of grief or bigotry. Instead, it focuses on the small, honest conversations, like Fabio talking about his transition or Louise mentioning her children who never visit. It is a serious, well-made piece of indie cinema that feels very real.
