Arriaga (2019)
A raw and intimate Portuguese short film tracing one young man's night-time struggle for identity on the streets of Lisbon.
Arriaga - Movie Information
Arriaga - Plot
On the shores of Lisbon, Arriaga, a 25 years old boy from a middle-class family of emigrants walks alone through the silent and wrinkled streets by vices of the nightlife. Arriaga deals with his self-destructive alter ego to be accepted among the youth of his neighborhood. Everything happens in one place, everything revolves around a single moment, what is suspicious only the unexpected can unfold.
Where to Watch Arriaga
Looking for where to watch Arriaga?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Arriaga - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Welket Bungué
Main Cast
- Mauro Hermínio
- Bruno Mateus
- Cleo Diára
- Isabél Zuaa
- Giovanni Lourenço
- Maikel Sani
- Welket Bungué
- Nádia Yracema
- Paulo Pascoal
- Miguel Valle
Writers
- Welket Bungué
Arriaga - FAQs
Who directed the short film Arriaga?
Arriaga was directed by Welket Bungué, who also served as the film's writer and appears in the cast as the voice of Bastien. Bungué is a Guinea-Bissau-born filmmaker and actor based in Portugal, known for blending personal and political themes in his work.
What is Arriaga about?
Arriaga follows a 25-year-old from a middle-class emigrant family wandering the nocturnal streets of Lisbon. Struggling with a self-destructive alter ego, he seeks acceptance among the youth of his neighborhood. The film unfolds in a single location, building tension around one pivotal, unexpected moment.
Who are the main actors in Arriaga?
The cast of Arriaga includes Giovanni Lourenço as the title character, alongside Mauro Hermínio, Bruno Mateus, Cleo Diára, Isabél Zuaa, Maikel Sani, Nádia Yracema, Paulo Pascoal, Miguel Valle, and Welket Bungué, who voices the character Bastien.
What genre is the film Arriaga?
Arriaga is a Drama and Crime short film. It blends the intimate character study of the drama genre with the tension and moral ambiguity of crime cinema, set against the atmospheric backdrop of Lisbon's nightlife and its social margins.
How long is the short film Arriaga?
Arriaga has a runtime of 24 minutes, making it a short film. Despite its brevity, the film constructs a dense, atmospheric portrait of identity and belonging, concentrating its narrative energy into a single location and a single defining moment.
What language is Arriaga filmed in?
Arriaga is filmed entirely in Portuguese. It is a Portuguese production, set and shot in Lisbon, and reflects the cultural and linguistic identity of Portugal's emigrant communities through its dialogue, environment, and characters.
Does Arriaga explore themes of identity and belonging?
Yes. At its core, Arriaga is a film about the tension between identity and belonging. The protagonist, a young man from an emigrant family, wrestles with a self-destructive inner voice while trying to find his place among neighborhood peers, reflecting broader questions of cultural displacement and youth.
Where was the short film Arriaga set and filmed?
Arriaga is set and filmed on the streets of Lisbon, Portugal. The film uses the city's nocturnal atmosphere — its quiet, vice-worn alleys and coastal edges — as an expressive backdrop that mirrors the protagonist's internal conflict and sense of social dislocation.
More About Arriaga
Explore further details and official listings for Arriaga below.