A Talking Picture 2004

In July 2001, Rosa Maria, a university educator, decides to take her young daughter Maria Joana on an adventurous cruise from their native Portugal to Bombay, India. The primary objective of their journey is to reunite with Rosa’s husband, who is an esteemed airplane pilot, but also to explore the birthplaces of civilization.

As the ship sails across the beautiful waters, a myriad of fascinating characters join their voyage. Among the notable passengers are a renowned businesswoman who boards in France, a striking model from Italy, and a celebrated actress arriving in Athens. The ship’s captain graciously invites these three illustrious women to dine at his table, where lively conversations unfold in their respective languages - a true testament to the enchanting diversity of culture.

Later in the journey, Maria Joana and Rosa Maria are graciously invited to join the captain’s table, where he presents Maria Joana with a thoughtful gift, an Arab doll that brings joy to the little girl.

However, the evening takes a tumultuous turn when the captain receives alarming news: in Aden, terrorists have planted two time bombs aboard the ship. The urgency heightens as passengers are instructed to evacuate immediately. In a flurry of panic, Maria Joana races back to their cabin to retrieve her precious doll, unknowingly getting herself in danger. Rosa Maria, realizing her daughter’s absence, sprints to the cabin, desperately searching for her child. They both hurry back on deck towards a life raft, but to their dismay, it is too late; all the rafts have already departed.

With tension escalating, the captain spots them on the deck and urgently calls for them to jump overboard. As he struggles to remove his uniform in a bid to swim to their aid, the air is suddenly filled with the deafening sounds of two explosions, and a blinding light envelops the scene, illuminating the captain’s face amid the chaos.

The film concludes on a haunting note, displaying the distraught captain’s face, a poignant image that captures the devastation in the wake of the explosions, leaving the audience with an overwhelming sense of loss and suspense.