Ballad of Return: Gustavo Rosa de Moura’s film is a hard, intense, unpleasant look at a relationship (or a couple of them); it’s not plot-driven but rather sensation driven, aiming (and succeeding) at being uncomfortable (which, to be clear, doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be seen). Acting is solid: João Miguel is very intense, and Marina Person navigates well in her difficult role. Flora Dias’s camerawork and lighting is appropriately dark and murky; the most important technical factor for the film to achieve its goal, however, is the expressive, oppressive sound design.