The Meaning of Life

PROJECT OVERVIEW

“The Meaning of Life” is the new project by director Miguel Gonçalves Mendes. An odyssey spanning over 10 years of filming, culminating in nine feature films and a TV series.

The main film, set to premiere in December 2025, gives the project its name. “The Meaning of Life” tells the extraordinary true story of Giovane Brisotto, a young Brazilian with a rare and incurable disease of Portuguese origin, which spread across five continents during the Age of Exploration.

General Trailer

Project Presentation

Giovani Brisotto Trailer

The film follows Giovane on an epic journey around the world, repeating the route that, 500 years ago, spread the disease that afflicts him. Along the way, we meet eight personalities with an international impact who take on the role of mirrors and archetypes of humanity through the way they approach art, science, sex, spirituality, universal justice and the future. A kaleidoscope of contemporary characters who invite us to ponder what makes us humans unique beings.

Portuguese writer Valter Hugo Mãe, Japanese visual artist Mariko Mori, Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Icelandic musician and Viking priest Hilmar Orn Hilmarson, controversial American porn actor Colby Keller and Brazilian political figures of global impact, such as environmentalist and former presidential candidate Marina Silva and former president Dilma Rousseff, take us through the last decade in a cinematic time capsule that brings us to the complex present days.

CULTURAL IMPACT

500 Years Since the Birth of Camões and Vasco da Gama's Arrival in India:
A Contemporary Reflection.

Following Giovane's journey, the film highlights the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, taking a light-hearted and humorous approach to Portugal's role as a pioneer of globalization. With a critical and humane stance, it explores the horrors of European colonialism, but also reflects on the positive things that may have come out of that period. At the same time, it celebrates the 500th anniversary of the birth of Luís de Camões, whose work “The Lusiads”, like a requiem, immortalized this historical chapter by questioning the values of maritime expansion.

A narrative that challenges us to think: to what extent are all of us the sum of our parts?

Portrait of internationally renowned personalities:
The project brings together unique and influential voices, including artists, scientists, and political leaders, who offer diverse perspectives on fundamental questions of human existence.

SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH

Brain Study
In Homo sapiens, the brain, despite representing only 2% of our total weight, is responsible for an impressive 25% of the energy consumed by the body even at rest - a true high- performance engine.

Considered the most complex biological structure we know, the human brain continues to fascinate scientists and explorers. Through Andreas Mogensen’s experiments on the International Space Station, the audience is invited to explore the latest developments in the understanding of this extraordinary organ, in a realm where science and human limits intersect with the infinite.

Rare Diseases
Through Giovane’s story as a carrier of familial amyloid polyneuropathy, we are introduced to the daily struggles of a global minority facing rare and incurable diseases, highlighting their fight to raise awareness among governments and scientists in search of a cure.

Giovane’s journey demonstrates that, despite living with a rare and degenerative disease, it is possible to lead a fulfilling life marked by resilience and dignity.

THE MEANING OF LIVE +

The Meaning of Life would not be complete without including the Portuguese artist whose work most symbolically reflects on the passage of time and the interdependent relationship between people and their environment.

Commissioned by JumpCut, Vhils created a portrait of astronaut Andreas Mogensen, the first site-specifc artwork to be installed in the dome of the International Space Station. In addition to the portraits of Andreas Mogensen and the writer Valter Hugo Mãe that Vhils created and which appear in the film, we also tried to bring in the different works by the artist that are scattered around the world and which the characters come across throughout the film.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Film Goals

• Explore Diverse Perspectives: Encourage reflection on different views and beliefs about the meaning of life.

• Promote Reflection and Empathy: Inspire audiences to connect with various cultural perspectives.

• Inspire the Search for Purpose: Encourage viewers to find meaning in their everyday experiences.

• Understand how humanity has shaped itself over time and whether we are merely the sum of our parts: The film offers ideas on how we can change our current path, inspiring us to leave the screening room with the conviction that small individual actions can effectively transform the world and the future.

• Young adults and adults (18-60 years old): especially those looking for stories of human resilience, such as Giovane Brisotto’s journey, and who identify with narratives of overcoming and global connection that value universal themes such as philosophy, science, spirituality and social justice.

• Filmmakers and cinephiles: people interested in profound, reflective and innovative cinematographic works, who appreciate the work of directors like Miguel Gonçalves Mendes and his documentary approach.

• International audience: thanks to the presence of global personalities and universal themes, the film attracts viewers from different countries and cultures, given that it will be released in 7 different countries.

• Admirers of documentaries and epic narratives: with 10 years of production, multiple feature films and a TV series, the project appeals to those who like stories with great depth and scale, mostly adults over 25.

EXPECTED RELEASE DATES - 2025

A streaming concept in which an interactive movie linking the main movie and the individual movies allows the viewer to choose the story they want to watch.

COMERCIAL RELEASE

PROJECTED AUDIENCE IN THE TOP 3 COUNTRIES

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

"The Meaning of Life" offers a unique opportunity for investors to be part of a culturally significant and commercially promising cinematic project. With a global narrative and high production value, this film series is poised to capture international attention.
We invite partners to join us in bringing this epic story to a worldwide audience, benefiting from a diverse revenue stream across theatrical release, streaming platforms, and merchandise. Explore how your investment can contribute to a profound artistic endeavor and yield significant returns.

Tax and Residency Benefits
Possibility of obtaining a Golden Visa through investment in the project.

Tangible Impact of Support
Financing the final stages of production and distribution of the film, as well as cultural preservation.

Recognition for Investors
Opportunity to participate in exclusive events and have their name associated with a project of global cultural significance.
Having your name listed as a producer

Associate Your Name as a Producer
Receive royalties from the film’s profits worldwide proportional to the total invested.

MARKETING STRATEGIES

WORLD PREMIERE ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

The film's premiere will take place in a truly unique setting: on board the International Space Station (ISS).

For the first time, a film will be presented in space, symbolising the union between art and science, which we believe will have a significant impact on the media.

The screening will be attended by astronauts in the current mission, who will share their thoughts on the film's central theme and who will record personal videos explaining what the meaning of life is for them, which will later be used in the film's trailer. This milestone reinforces the film's message: the search for answers transcends borders, uniting us as humankind. An experience that redefines the concept of universal cinema.

INTERACTIVE TIME CAPSULE

In collaboration with RTP, the Presidency of the Republic, and the Lisbon City Hall, The Meaning of Life will also be a Time Capsule. During the month leading up to the premiere, RTP will select a committee and hold a public competition to choose what best represents Portuguese culture, such as the best book, the best film, the best song, etc. These items will be placed in a time capsule to be buried on the day of the film's premiere.

The Time Capsule will emit a signal every 100 years, revealing its coordinates to show future generations what we consider representative of national identity.

PUBLICATIONS & SOUNDTRACK

To celebrate the release of The Meaning of Life, several exclusive products will be presented to complement the film experience. These include the original soundtrack CD, composed by Shigeru Umebayashi and other international composers, as well as books and the director's monograph (O Cinema de Miguel Gonçalves Mendes - Análise Crítica e Filmografia Completa), which explores his creative process and includes previously unpublished interviews and critical analyses.

A unique opportunity to delve into the universe of this remarkable artwork.

DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Born in Covilhã in 1978, MIGUEL GONÇALVES MENDES studied directing (specialising in editing) at the Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema.
Much of his documentary work has resulted in the portrayal of various icons of Portuguese culture. Besides Saramago, he portrayed Eduardo Lourenço (“O Labirinto da Saudade”), Mário Cesariny (“Autografia”) and Álvaro Siza Vieira (“O Labirinto da Saudade”).

With a career of over twenty years, he has already directed six feature films, several short films and music videos - as well as producing films by other directors.
He regularly collaborates with the production companies El Deseo (Almodóvar Brothers, Spain) and 02 Filmes (Fernando Meirelles' production company, Brazil). He was invited by National Geographic Brazil to direct a documentary on education in the country, and four of his films are part of the National Film Plan and the school curriculum.

“José e Pilar” marked the first time that a documentary was submitted by Portugal to the Oscars for Best International Feature Film. It premiered commercially in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Spain, where it ran for four months.

He is a permanent and founding member of the Portuguese Film Academy, of which he was vice-president in 2011-2013 and 2020-2022.

He is currently in the post-production phase of “The Meaning of Life”, a film scheduled for release in December 2025, in which he has worked with personalities such as human rights lawyer Baltasar Garzón, former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen. Among the major achievements in this feature film is the installation of a new artwork by Vhils on the International Space Station.

Besides being a director, Miguel Gonçalves Mendes has taught at various universities, published books and curated exhibitions.

His work has been exhibited at the MoMA, in New York, in Los Angeles and at the major Brazilian cultural institutions. His exhibition “Points of View”, about José Saramago, which was shown in São Paulo, at the Farol Santander, and in more than three cities in Brazil, had more than 150,000 visitors.

The filmmaker's efforts can be summed up in one goal: to create a time capsule of Portuguese culture, and of humanity, for future generations.

He is currently preparing two new fiction feature films: the film adaptation of José Saramago's “The Gospel According to Jesus Christ.”