ANTES DO CAFÉ (2021)

 

With production, writing, performance, and direction by Andrea Villela, "Antes do Café" is an adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s monologue. O’Neill’s original play presents Mrs. Rowland, Alfred’s wife, who must navigate her husband’s routine and “presence.”

Filmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Andrea’s adaptation immerses the audience simultaneously in the dark moments of social isolation, the conflicted relationship between husband and wife, and, most importantly, the protagonist’s psychological and emotional state.

The repeated mention of the husband’s name is deliberately unsettling. Calling out “Alfredo” multiple times serves to convey the protagonist’s anger, anguish, and disappointment—essentially, everything she feels toward her husband in their situation. The short doesn’t merely show a woman frustrated with her spouse; it portrays a complex, worn-out relationship, full of subtle and direct nuances.

With intimate cinematography, the film doesn’t focus heavily on Alfredo, despite his name being spoken throughout. The handheld camera, tightly framing the protagonist’s face, reflects her emotional state, furious at what her husband has done (or continues to do). The soundtrack is another standout feature. Every sound is precisely placed, unfolding slowly yet impactfully.

At first, while preparing coffee, the ambient sound feels natural, comfortable, and routine. What follows, however, gradually escalates, preparing the audience for an emotional storm. The rumbling thunder mirrors the protagonist’s mental, emotional, and psychological turmoil.

Although there is essentially only one visible character (two, if you count the hidden Alfredo), Andrea Villela extracts the maximum from the text, both through the narrative’s density and her visceral performance. One can sense her desperation even at the beginning, when she calmly and subtly calls for Alfredo. At the same time, a peculiar calm persists even when she screams and lashes out at him—as the saying goes, “it’s the kind of calm only despair can give.” The protagonist blends calm and agony, acceptance and denial, strength and weakness—intensely, with each emotional barrier crossed in an instant. This ambiguity illustrates how one feeling can swiftly give way to another.

"Antes do Café" tackles heavy, intense themes, especially once Alfredo’s true situation is revealed. Only then can the audience fully understand the wife’s behavior—her anger, her pain, and perhaps the weight of guilt she carries, whether deserved or not. Her insistence on calling Alfredo can be seen as a form of release. It seems that calling him may be the only thing left in her life, a hope that he might respond. In this way, the film explores loss and loneliness, leaving viewers to question Alfredo’s whereabouts and why he does not answer. The protagonist deceives herself, living in an illusion—intentionally or not. In a state of mental confusion, it is impossible to determine with certainty what she truly believes, thinks, or experiences as reality or illusion.

With limited resources and physical constraints, Andrea Villela delivers a powerful performance, exposing her character’s fragility. She also demonstrates remarkable versatility as writer, director, and editor. The physical limitation imposed by the pandemic strengthens the film, making viewers feel the oppression of the confined space that disturbs the protagonist. This reinforces that she is not only trapped by the physical environment but also by her life circumstances. The setting and soundtrack convey the mental state of a character pushed to her limits due to Alfredo’s actions. And the lingering question remains: even if she is not responsible for Alfredo’s fate, why does she feel such guilt?