The Strange Case of Angelica 2010

In Portugal during the year 2000, a young Sefardic photographer named Isaac finds himself renting an apartment in a modest guesthouse run by Senhora Justina in Peso da Régua. One stormy night, his sleep is abruptly interrupted by a wealthy family requesting his urgent help: they seek to capture the final portrait of their beloved daughter, Angélica, a young woman who tragically passed away shortly following her wedding.

Upon reaching Quinta das Portas, Isaac is met with the somber atmosphere of a family deeply grieving the loss of Angélica. While exploring one of the chambers, he is struck by the breathtaking beauty of Angélica herself. At that moment, as he adjusts the focus of his lens, she seems to momentarily come back to life, offering him a mysterious wink and a smile.

The following day, Isaac resumes his intended project of documenting the old-world techniques employed in the local vineyards, paying special homage to the so-called “earth diggers.” However, the enchanting image of Angélica continues to haunt his thoughts, leaving him besotted by her memory. He finds himself in a relentless pursuit of her ethereal essence, captivated by the series of ghostly apparitions that ensnare his heart.

As time passes, the photographer spirals into exhaustion, becoming increasingly disconnected from his surroundings and his once-vibrant social life. Eventually, he succumbs to an inexplicable fate, lost in the enchanting yet tormenting ghost of Angélica.