‘The Tsugua Diaries’ (2022) Review: A Story Told in Reverse in the Age of Isolation
The concept of pandemic movies has become a genre of its own. While most of the genre dives into horror aspects, Maureen Fazendeiro and Miguel Gomes’ The Tusgua Diaries (Portuguese: Diários de Otsoga) choose a different path. The movie shows a unique and memorable way a film crew shoots a film during the days of the pandemic. But what’s interesting about the movie is told in reverse chronology, and the first trick is the title “August” is spelt backwards. The story begins on Day 22 and ends on Day One, and it shows the crew discussing the characters, improvisations, and the Covid safety precautions during filming.
The Tusgua Diaries follows three central characters, Crista (Crista Alfaiate), Carloto (Carloto Cotta), and João (João Nunes Monteiro), who are having a small dance party by themselves. Carloto witnesses a romantic moment between Crista and João, and tension between them forms. But instead of progressing to what happens next, the movie jumps back to the previous day where they discuss their shyness and reluctance to arrange a party. The relationship shifts between them, as they build a cage for butterflies and soon, the cast and crew join them too. Soon, the movie turns into a documentary, as it slowly reveals the crew members’ discussing the production.
The film is indeed uniquely different compared to the other pandemic movies. It shifts the idea by telling the story in reverse chronology, and it’s not just the narrative. In the movie, a shot of a fruit initially rotting is shown but as the days progress backwards, it shows the fruit in the ripe stage and then un-ripened. The sense and understanding of time aren’t meant to be blurred, but it is a conscious decision by the directors to show how time passes through the film, whether it is backwards. The documentation of the fruit is a gentle reminder of Covid’s effect on the lives of people as well as how much it has impacted us.
Other than the unique concept, The Tusgua Diaries doesn’t have much to offer. There isn’t much conflict but the film builds its form of tension by showing the characters discussing the psychology and improvisations as a group. But most importantly, the movie shows the togetherness of the crew in heartwarming scenes. There may be some viewers who might find the concept of reverse chronology bizarre, but it is an interesting way to document how the cast and crew work behind the scenes. Even though there isn’t a narrative conflict happening, the background music is alive at all times. Guitar strings strum in the background, as the cast discusses whether copyright implications may affect the film. It’s safe to say that The Tusgua Diaries blurs the lines between fiction and documentary, and it is something wonderful that most viewers would have never seen before.
