The Girl of the Sea

Synopsis

In a fantastic underwater universe, is tells of a a girl who lives down in the sea – but very curious about life on land –, of a boy who lives on land – but very curious about life at sea -, and the unlikely meeting of these two worlds … The encounter will lead us to surprising episodes of wonder, where we’ll find a friendly fish who plays the clarinet, a suspicious saxophone-playing crab, a mysterious and rather clumsy bassoon-playing octopus, among other characters, all under the watchful rule of the double bass, the intimidating King of the Sea. From the uneasiness and mistrust of the first contacts to the party in which they all dance merrily, the big question lingers: how can we live in harmony with the ocean, nature, and the life around us?

“- I’m really curious about life on land – said the girl-; tomorrow when you come back bring me something from the land.
And they made it a deal.
The next day, first thing in the morning, the boy went to his garden and he picked the best smelling red rose. He headed to the beach, looking for the exact place he had been the day before.
– Good morning, Good morning, Good morning – said the girl, the octopus, the crab and the fish.
– Good morning – said the boy. And he kneeled on the water facing the Girl from the Sea.
– I bring you a flower, from the land – he said-; it is called a rose.
– It’s beautiful, so beautiful – said the Girl from the Sea, clapping, hopping and running merrily around the rose.
– Here, smell it, and you’ll see how good it smells.”

A Menina do Mar, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (our translation)

Illustration: Rafael Mapril