The Passion According to G.H.

G.H., a well-to-do sculptress living in Rio, goes into her maid Janair's small room and notices a cockroach emerging from the wardrobe. In a reflex of panic she slams the door, but the wounded insect's presence triggers an intense, inward upheaval. What follows is less a sequence of events than a prolonged interior collapse and reordering of perception, as G.H. becomes consumed by questions about her body, her art, and the gulf between her life and Janair's. The film stays tightly focused on this single episode, using sensory detail and psychological pressure to map a sudden, unsettling shift in consciousness without giving away how that shift resolves.

Released in 2024, the film was directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho and adapts Clarice Lispector's novel, with creative input from Melina Dalboni. Maria Fernanda Cândido leads as G.H., and Samira Nancassa appears as Janair, anchoring the story with concentrated performances.

The film had an arthouse release, with screenings aimed at festivals and select cinemas, so detailed box office totals haven't been widely published. Its distribution strategy emphasized literary and art house audiences over mainstream commercial runs.

Early reception stirred renewed interest in how Lispector's dense, introspective prose can translate to cinema. Viewers and critics have been debating the movie's visual approach to interior monologue, and the central room scene has prompted discussion about how film can stage encounters with disgust, intimacy, and social distance. That conversation has extended into literary circles and cinephile forums.

Critical response has been mixed to positive, with particular praise for Maria Fernanda Cândido's committed, physically specific performance and Luiz Fernando Carvalho's austere visual choices. Audiences attuned to slow, contemplative work will likely appreciate its focus on identity, class tension, embodiment, and artistic conscience, while viewers seeking conventional plot momentum may find it challenging. The film rewards patience and attention to sensory detail.