Fabiana

2018, Brazil, Fabiana Camila Ferreira, Portuguese,

Director: Brunna Laboissière
Release Year: 2018

Synopsis:

The Brazilian documentary "Fabiana" (2018), directed by Brunna Laboissière, offers a rare and intimate portrait of a life lived on the road — a life that defies traditional expectations of gender, identity, and societal norms. Through the lens of Laboissière’s camera, we follow the journey of Fabiana Camila Ferreira, a seasoned trans woman truck driver who has spent over three decades crisscrossing Brazil’s vast and diverse landscapes. In this poignant and evocative film, we see not just the highways and trucks that have defined Fabiana’s existence, but also her personal reflections, her relationships, and the impending changes that come with the end of this nomadic chapter of her life.

 

The documentary focuses on a crucial moment in Fabiana’s life: her impending retirement. After thirty years on the road, Fabiana faces the prospect of leaving behind the life she has known, one that has allowed her the freedom to travel, explore, and live on her own terms. The film grapples with the intersection of personal identity, the transient nature of life, and the inevitability of change. Through Laboissière’s sensitive direction, "Fabiana" becomes more than just the story of a truck driver—it is a reflection on self-discovery, the relationships we form, and the ways we cope with transformation. Ferreira Fabiana’s story is exceptional not only because of her career as a truck driver but also because of her identity as a trans woman. Throughout the documentary, she demonstrates an ease with her identity that feels both empowering and unremarkable. Fabiana's gender identity, though undoubtedly a significant part of her life, doesn’t overshadow the broader themes of the film. In fact, it becomes a non-issue in many of her interactions with fellow truckers and strangers she meets along the way.

 

Over the years, Fabiana has developed deep relationships with the people she meets on her travels — especially with women, who she occasionally connects with in different places. The road is a space of camaraderie, where her identity as a trans woman is respected, if not always explicitly acknowledged. For Fabiana, the act of driving long-haul freight across Brazil is more than just a job; it is an expression of freedom and autonomy. Her life on the road is defined by a sense of belonging among other truckers, who, regardless of gender, share a common bond in their work and lifestyle. There is something remarkably egalitarian about the way Fabiana navigates the typically male-dominated world of trucking. This sense of belonging on the road is contrasted with her quieter life at home, where she lives with her girlfriend when not working. Fabiana’s home life, as depicted in the documentary, provides a stark contrast to the openness and adventure of her life on the road. As she nears retirement, she realizes that her home will become her new world. This shift prompts reflections on what it means to settle down after a lifetime of movement and exploration.

 

Brunna Laboissière, who both directed and filmed "Fabiana", offers a delicate, almost voyeuristic gaze into the trucker’s life. As the camera rolls, we are taken on a journey through the Brazilian countryside, the highways, and the fleeting moments that make up Fabiana’s daily existence. The film captures the feeling of endlessness that comes with long-haul trucking—the constant movement, the monotonous stretches of road, and the changing landscapes that stretch out before her. There is a certain poetic beauty in these vast, open spaces that mirrors Fabiana’s own sense of freedom. One of the most powerful aspects of "Fabiana" is the way Laboissière captures intimate moments between Fabiana and those in her life. These are not grandiose or overtly dramatic moments, but rather subtle, quiet exchanges that speak to the emotional complexity of Fabiana’s experiences. The documentary often focuses on phone calls that Fabiana has with friends and lovers while she is on the road. These conversations offer a window into Fabiana’s private world, where vulnerability and strength exist in equal measure. As she speaks with tenderness and humor, she reveals a depth of emotion that contrasts with the tough, independent persona she projects to the world. The truck itself plays a central role in the film. It is both Fabiana’s workplace and her home. The cab of the truck is her sanctuary, a space that she has made her own. It is where she spends hours at a time, thinking, reflecting, and forging her own path in a world that often tries to impose rigid expectations on her. The truck’s interior is intimate and personal, filled with objects that reflect Fabiana’s personality and the life she has built for herself on the road. Through the simple, everyday moments captured within this confined space, we gain insight into the complexity of her character.

 

As Fabiana approaches retirement, the documentary shifts focus to the question of how she will cope with the changes in her life. For over thirty years, she has lived a life of adventure and independence, but now she must face the prospect of a quieter, more settled existence. How do you embrace change when the life you have led is one you love? This is the central question that "Fabiana" grapples with, and the film doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it paints a nuanced picture of a woman coming to terms with the inevitability of transition. The quiet moments of reflection and the passing of time give the film an almost meditative quality, as Fabiana contemplates the future and what it holds. For many viewers, Fabiana’s story is one of resilience. She has built a life for herself outside the confines of conventional gender roles, defying societal expectations of what it means to be a woman, a lover, and a professional. Her ability to navigate the complexities of gender identity and a male-dominated profession with ease and confidence is an inspiring testament to her strength and character. But beyond this, "Fabiana" also serves as a reminder of the constant ebb and flow of life—how even the most steadfast identities and routines are subject to change. Whether it's adjusting to a new lifestyle or confronting the uncertainties of the future, Fabiana’s journey is a metaphor for the larger human experience of transformation. 

 

Brunna Laboissière’s debut documentary is a beautifully crafted film that combines the sensibilities of a documentarian with the insight of an artist. Her background in architecture and urbanism is evident in the way she frames the landscapes and structures within the film. There is a certain architectural sensibility to the way the film moves through space, with the roads and trucks functioning as a kind of metaphorical architecture for Fabiana’s journey. Laboissière’s approach to storytelling is quiet and observational. The camera doesn’t intrude into Fabiana’s life but rather stands back, giving us room to observe and reflect alongside the subject. This observational style allows the documentary to feel natural and unforced, as if we are merely passengers on Fabiana’s journey, seeing the world through her eyes. Through "Fabiana", Laboissière brings attention to a marginalized yet often overlooked community—the transgender truckers and workers who exist on the fringes of both the gender and labor spectra. In doing so, the film subtly challenges preconceived notions about what it means to be a woman, a worker, and a traveler in today’s world.

 

"Fabiana" is a compelling exploration of identity, change, and the complexities of human connection. Through the lens of Fabiana’s long-haul trucking career, Brunna Laboissière invites us to reflect on the ways in which we define ourselves, the spaces we inhabit, and the inevitable transitions that shape our lives. Fabiana’s story is a celebration of freedom and self-determination, but it is also a meditation on the quieter, more introspective moments that come when we are forced to confront the future. Ultimately, "Fabiana" reminds us that identity is fluid, that life is in constant motion, and that the road, much like life itself, is full of unknowns. And just as Fabiana navigates the twists and turns of Brazil’s highways, we, too, must navigate the twists and turns of our own lives.

 

via: pro.festivalscope.com

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