One of the Best Films of 2018 Cost Less Than $20,000 To Make
Christian Malheiros in "Socrates"
Recently I saw (and voted for in the Independent Spirit Awards) a wonderful Brazilian film called "Socrates." Directed by Alexandre Moratto, it's a coming-of-age story set in São Paulo. Startlingly, it was made by a crew of 16-to-20 year-olds from local low-income neighborhoods for a budget of under $20,000.
Because this information appears on the screen before the start of the movie, I kept my expectations low. Yet I found nothing to criticize in "Socrates," and much to admire. Beautifully shot, directed and acted, it reminded me of two towering classics: "The Four Hundred Blows" and "Bicycle Thieves." On February 23rd, Moratto deservedly won the ISA's Someone To Watch award, which at $25,000 exceeds "Socrates"'s microbudget.
There have always been low-budget films, but in the past they looked it. As "Socrates" proves, that's no longer the case: excellent visual and sound quality can be achieved for relatively little money. Lower filmmaking costs have opened the doors to new talent, and the variety and excellence of today's films are the happy result.