Carlos Saldanha Returns to Brazil for Ambitious ‘100 Days’ Adventure Film

After nearly a decade in development, acclaimed director Carlos Saldanha is finally premiering “100 Days” at the Rio Film Festival, serving as the Brazilian closing gala. The epic adventure chronicles the true story of pioneering explorer Amyr Klink, who became the first person to cross the South Atlantic solo in a rowboat in 1984. While Klink’s voyage lasted 100 days, bringing his story to the screen took director Carlos Saldanha almost 3,000 days.

Adapted from Klink’s book “One Hundred Days Between Sky and Sea,” the film stars Filipe Bragança as the intrepid explorer, with French actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu portraying his mother, Asa. Felipe Camargo and João Silva join the cast as Klink’s father and brother, respectively.

Saldanha revealed that veteran producer Paula Consenza introduced him to the project before the pandemic began. At the time, the “Ice Age” and “Rio” filmmaker was working on “Ferdinand” and considering his first live-action venture. “I thought it was a great coincidence because I love the book,” Saldanha told Variety. “It was a very formative read in my teenage years… I knew it deserved a big cinema treatment.”

To capture the psychological depth of the journey, Saldanha collaborated with writers Elena Soarez and Thais Tavares to rework the script. He emphasized that simply recounting the adventure was insufficient; he wanted to explore Klink’s internal experience during the grueling solo row. The director conducted extensive research, speaking with Klink, his family, and friends to understand his motivations. Klink provided significant creative freedom, helping the team decipher his character without over-explaining.

Casting was pivotal, and Saldanha found his lead in Bragança. “Filipe was incredible. He is very studious and dedicated… He went on a strict diet, he watched every single Amyr video, he read and reread the book,” Saldanha recalled. “He holds the weight of the film on his shoulders. He was a champion.”

Leroy-Beaulieu was cast in a stroke of serendipity. The prominent French star speaks fluent Portuguese and was looking to work in Brazil, which aligned perfectly with the role of Klink’s Swedish mother, who speaks Portuguese with a specific accent. Saldanha noted her resemblance to the real-life Asa and praised her Portuguese skills, calling her two-week shoot in Brazil “wonderful.”

The production faced significant logistical hurdles, particularly regarding the water sequences. The team constructed a massive water tank, marking their first experience with a set of that scale. While a week of ocean filming was conducted for daylight scenes, the tank was essential for capturing night sequences and storm effects. Visual effects work continued for two years after principal photography wrapped, involving teams in both São Paulo and Finland. Saldanha praised this international co-production model, noting that the collaborative effort resulted in a visually stunning film.

For Saldanha, a director who built a successful career in American animation with franchises like “Ice Age,” “Rio,” and “Ferdinand,” returning to Brazil has been a rewarding homecoming. He cited Netflix’s “Invisible City” and “100 Days” as projects that helped him break barriers within the local industry, where he previously felt he lacked connections. “This homecoming was such a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “My experience has only increased my desire to continue working in Brazil.”

Saldanha expressed excitement about screening “100 Days” at the historic Odeon cinema and urged Brazilian audiences to support the film in theaters, emphasizing it was made for the big screen. He also highlighted the cultural importance of domestic heroes. “We are used to watching foreign heroes on screen, but we need to see ourselves reflected in our cinema and understand we, too, have heroes,” he said.

“100 Days” is produced by Ventre Studio in co-production with Buena Vista International, Boipeba Filmes, Trema Filmes, O2 Post, and Total Post. Distribution is handled by The Walt Disney Company’s Buena Vista International.