My review of Kátia Mesel’s Recife de Dentro pra Fora (1997), a remarkably beautiful short film that transforms the Capibaribe River into a poetic portrait of Recife’s cultural identity, social inequalities, and environmental struggles. Inspired by João Cabral de Melo Neto’s O Cão sem Plumas, the film brings together powerful imagery, poetry, and the voices of Geraldo Azevedo, Elba Ramalho, and Zé Ramalho. Recently restored in 4K and presented at the Brazil Film Fest Toronto 2026, the film stands as both a declaration of love for Recife and an important work of Pernambuco’s cinematic and cultural memory.