A poetic journey into masculinity in Northern Brazil
What does masculinity look like when seen through a woman’s eyes? Brazilian writer-director Laís Sambugaro explores this question in her short film In My Father’s Eyes – a lyrical meditation on identity, tradition, and manhood.
Shot entirely on Super8 in the rural landscapes of Pará, the film immerses itself in the world of Brazilian cowboys, shaped by gestures, rituals, and unspoken rules.
Cowboys and Contradictions
In collaboration with filmmaker and musician Ryland Bouchard, who provides the film’s poetic narration, Sambugaro highlights the contradictions of masculinity – the inherited codes of strength and authority contrasted with queer longing.
With grainy, luminous imagery and an original score by João Pedro Dentello, In My Father’s Eyes creates a dreamlike atmosphere that reflects both nostalgia and conflict.
A Woman’s Perspective
“The film reflects my experience as a woman immersed in a predominantly male, rural world – surrounded by unfamiliar codes. Many times, I was the only woman in the room.”
– Laís Sambugaro
Rather than exploring femininity, Sambugaro observes masculinity – its movements, its words, its silences. In doing so, she opens a poetic space between memory and allegory, revealing the fragile tensions beneath.
About Nowness
Nowness is one of the world’s leading digital platforms for short films in art, design, fashion and culture. Curated by an international editorial team, the platform presents daily works that are both visually striking and narratively compelling. In My Father’s Eyes joins this curated selection of visionary projects – a poetic exploration of identity, tradition, and emotion.