Claiming anything as “the greatest” in its category is a tricky assertion to make. Even more so with the arts. However, when the Brazilian Association of Film Critics (Abraccine) selected “Isle of Flowers” (original title, “Ilha das Flores”) as Brazil’s greatest ever short film, not too many eyebrows were raised among the country’s film buffs.
Directed in 1989 by Jorge Furtado, “Isle of Flowers” quickly became an unmissable reference in Brazilian cinema and TV after it wowed audiences at its premiere at the Gramado Film Festival. It walked away with a bunch...