Yeda is a hard-working green woman who spends her life baking bread and selling it in the neighbourhood to run her home. She also takes care of her invalid husband, who is now dependent on her for all his needs. Resigned to her fate, Yeda thinks that only a miracle can change her circumstances. And as luck would have it, life allows her to rewrite her destiny. She wins a lottery which gives her the opportunity to come out of her green identity and get a new purple one, the dream of every green man and woman. Yeda is initially reluctant to accept the offer to cross over to the purple side, leaving behind her loved ones in the green. But as the temptation to grab this ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ grows larger, she takes a few decisions which she believes will enable her to make the crossing guilt-free.
‘Purple Dictatorship’ is a Narrative Short from Director Matheus Moura. Matheus tells the timeless story of the struggle between the classes, in his well-conceived land of the green and the purple people. Matheus excels in the use of music and sound effects to establish the land where the classes speak in different frequencies even though they speak the same language and understand one another perfectly well. He gives the story a poetic treatment, both in the narrative and the visual language. ‘Purple Dictatorship’ is a delightful watch, that makes one relook at the concept of ‘moving forward in life’. As the film follows Yeda through her decisions, it does not pass judgements or evaluate her for her actions.
Each one of us struggles to find a better life without realizing the true meaning of the term ‘better’. The glitz and glamour associated with what is peddled as ‘a better life’, often comes with an expensive price tag. While Yeda thought that she had found her ticket to cross over to the purple side on a platter, by winning the lottery; it is only after she realizes that her folks are not too happy for her, that she learns about the real cost she will end up paying for the crossing.
