Je Suis: On Honoring The Divine Feminine And Discovering Oneself Through Nature

In the film, appreciation of nature goes beyond the enjoyment of its sights and sounds. How challenging was it to frame Portugal’s coastal environment as a transcendent affirming source and reflective space? What did this require, from a visual and technical point of view?

Berlenga has its own microclimate and the humidity levels can rise above 90% during the night—the west is always wild, and the Atlantic water and winds can be freezing cold, creating very uncomfortable conditions at times. My biggest advantage with this project was the fact that I basically grew up on the island. I’m familiar with how the tide moves, where the moon rises, and where all the hidden gems are. This knowledge provided us with a unique creative edge which allowed us to fully explore and shoot incredible sceneries.

The film was shot in less than two days and we were very blessed with one spectacular sunset, where soft haze of low clouds reflected and intensified the pink hues. I’m very grateful to Mother Nature for the weather conditions that eventuated on these two crucial days, and to Claude Emmanuelle and Gaïa for entrusting me on this adventure to what is a deserted island with unpredictable weather conditions. I want to acknowledge this not from a visual or technical point of view but from a social one, because challenging our comfort zones deserves recognition.