Skin of Glass

90 minutes · United States · 2023

When director Denise Zmekhol revisits the architectural masterpiece of her late father, a modernist skyscraper in São Paulo, Brazil, she discovers it is occupied by hundreds of unhoused people. The building is marked by controversy. Once a headquarters for the police force of a dictatorial government and later a site of anarchist artwork, it was most recently taken over by housing activists in an attempt to transform their city. Through the stories of people with a passionate connection to her father’s work, Zmekhol helps us understand the building as a reflection of Brazil’s political and economic turmoil over the last half century.

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The Sunday (2/4) program will be followed with a Q&A featuring filmmaker Denise Zmekhol.

About the film

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Director:Denise Zmekhol
Year:2023
Runtime:90 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English, Portuguese
Note:English Subtitles

The ADFF:CHICAGO Short Film Program will be showing on a continuous loop in the Chicago Gallery and is free and open to everyone. Read about the short films here.

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In partnership with

AXIOS Chicago
LondonHouse Chicago
Modern Luxury
Consulate General of the Netherlands
Nienkamper
PCL Graphics Ltd
The Ruder Group
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the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago