What Now? Remind Me

Joaquim Pinto is a Portuguese filmmaker who has been living with HIV for two decades. When he is not participating in new clinical drug trials to combat his disease (and energy allows), Pinto produces "projects without sense." Lately, Pinto has had trouble maintaining his focus, and he notes that keeping up his spirit and sense of hope has become increasingly difficult. What Now? Remind Me is essentially a video diary of Pinto's life with his partner Nuno Leonel, who opted to stay (mostly) out of the film. Pinto leads a quiet, somewhat isolated life, and much of the footage here shows him in bed, speaking to himself, the viewer, or no one in particular in prolonged sequences with little movement, punctuated by silences (there is also repeated use of insect imagery, although the meaning remains obscure). Some of the more interesting themes are indirect--contrasting views of Pinto with the more hopeful, religious nature of mostly unseen Leonel (it should be noted that the film contains one dimly-lit scene of fairly explicit lovemaking). A festival award-winner that will appeal primarily to fans of art films, extras a trio of short films by Pinto and Leonel (that are more lively than the main feature). Optional. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)