Chapa 100, a work-in-progress feature from Mozambican director Ique Langa, was presented during the 2026 edition of Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival’s co-production initiative and talent development program for filmmakers from equity-seeking communities and regions with restricted artistic expression. The project is being produced by Lara Sousa of Kulunga Filmes and was highlighted during the platform’s second edition, which focused on African cinema.
The film follows Sitóe, an 80-year-old flower vendor in Maputo, and Valentina, a vegetable seller in her seventies, who meet through a chance encounter on one of the city’s chapas—locally operated minibuses serving as a primary mode of transportation. Their connection sparks a quiet romance centered on their shared dream of owning land where flowers and vegetables can grow together. The narrative takes a surrealist turn when Sitóe is struck by a speeding chapa while pursuing a thief who steals Valentina’s wig. His spirit becomes bound to the minibus that killed him, manifesting through flowers that mysteriously bloom within the vehicle as it travels through Maputo daily. The story culminates when Valentina boards the same chapa, carrying a flower Sitóe had given her, and experiences the invisible presence of his love through these ethereal signs.
Langa drew inspiration for the film from observations of Maputo’s street life, particularly the resilience of vendors and passengers in the chapas. The director views the minibuses as more than transportation infrastructure, describing them as moving portraits of the city where lives briefly intersect. According to Langa, the film explores themes of love, dignity, aging, grief, and the human capacity to dream and maintain hope despite challenging circumstances.
Lang emphasized that while Chapa 100 is specifically rooted in Maputo’s context, its emotional themes—love, loss, loneliness, aging, and the courage to pursue dreams—hold universal appeal for international audiences. The next phase involves continuing screenplay development, securing financing, and identifying international co-production partners. Cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef is set to develop the film’s visual language, focusing on finding poetic beauty within Maputo’s reality while allowing surrealist elements to emerge naturally. Langa noted that Open Doors provided community with fellow African filmmakers and assistance in identifying collaborative partners who could support production while preserving the film’s distinctly Mozambican character.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI