Pedro Pinho's fifth feature, 'I Only Rest in the Storm', offers a beguiling exploration of postcolonial tensions in Guinea-Bissau. The film follows Sérgio, a Portuguese environmental engineer working for an NGO on a road construction project, as he grapples with white privilege and his role in Africa. The narrative unfolds over three hours, delving into themes of western paternalism and hypocrisy.
Sérgio, played by Sérgio Coragem, is first seen driving through a sand blizzard, reminiscent of an Antonioni existential wanderer. He avoids confronting the power dynamics around him, preferring to live in the moment. His dalliance with Gui, a Brazilian drag queen played by Jonathan Guilherme, highlights his noncommittal nature. Gui's gender-fluid posse, including market hustler Diara (Cleo Diára), represents a racial and sexual utopia, yet Sérgio's bisexuality mirrors his opportunistic tendencies.
The film uses Sérgio's nonaligned status to eavesdrop on postcolonial relations. Opinions are divided on whether the road project will boost the economy or harm the environment, against a backdrop of poverty, corruption, and violence. The mysterious disappearance of Sérgio's predecessor and local businessman Horatio's reluctance to discuss it underscore these issues. Diara reminds Sérgio that scruples are a luxury when he refuses a €150,000 bribe from Horatio.
Pinho's long, conversational scenes lack the visual concision of Claire Denis or Ulrich Seidl, but offer warmth and humanity. The film continually negotiates its position on economic and racial questions, culminating in a bracing sex scene where Sérgio finds himself in the middle. Pinho understands that the personal is always political, making this a thought-provoking drama.
