Director of 'Elis: Shadows of a Woman' Felipe Vallas to Helm Real-Life Shipwreck Drama 'Bateau Mouche' for Boutique Films and Anonymous Content (Exclusive)

Boutique Filmes and Anonymous Content Brazil have set Felipe Vallas to direct 'Bateau Mouche,' inspired by the real sinking of a boat on New Year's Eve 1988. The film will be written by Gustavo Lipstein, who also wrote the highly successful Netflix-inspired series 'Endactiverencylessdio.' Historical […]

This ambitious film is supposed to narrate the events of the 1988 tragedy that killed 55 people in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay.

Boutique Filmes and Anonymous Content Brazil have lined up Felipe Velas to direct Bateau Mouche, inspired by the real-life boat sinking on New Year's Eve 1988. The film will be written by Gustavo Lipstein, who also wrote the highly successful Netflix series Endactiverencyless, inspired by the RadioEndless series. Historical tragedies of Brazil

Wallace's previous collaboration with Boutique, Elise: Shadows of a Woman, was also an international hit on Netflix, where it topped the global non-English-language ratings, reaching 17.4 million views in one week and reaching the top 10 on the platform in 90 countries. Velas will follow a true crime with another true story, dealing with the events of the 1988 accident when the Bateau Mouche IV sank in Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, killing 55 people. This tragedy is one of the most shocking tragedies in the history of this country. Related Stories Record Store Day 2026 Black Friday lineup unveiled: Noah Kahan, Katseye, Sombr, Springsteen, Wicked, KPop Demon Hunters and 180 more exclusives

Speaking to Variety, Boutique Filmes partner Gustavo Mello says the project stems from their partnership with the director, who is also a content partner at Anonymous. "We had a strong affinity for Elise and felt like we needed to find another project together." "We had several conversations with Barbara Teixeira, his partner at Anonymous, to find a film that would capture the dimensions of our creative partnership, which I believe is very strong," he adds. We are two companies that have a very interesting way of operating in the market. "When we came to this story, we felt that ambition had taken over the partnership." Popular in Variety

"Bateau Mouche" follows the moments before and after tragedy while focusing on the human stories at the heart of loss. This film is supposed to focus on the passengers, crew and their families on that fateful night.

"We believe this story depicts Brazil at a very special time, entering the new republic with a sense of hope and belief in a new country," says Mello. "That's when this tragic incident happens in an irresponsible system. So it's a story that says a lot about Brazil and also about human relationships where you see the characters in such a dramatic situation.

Asked about the sensitivity required when dealing with true-life stories like the drowning of Matsunaga and Batu Moush, Melo says he is acutely aware of the "responsibility" that comes with it. "With the projects we've worked on, we need creative autonomy, but it needs to be fully anchored in a moral responsibility to be able to make the right decisions."

Mello adds that the film has a "very special challenge" in its ambition to recreate such a large-scale incident. "We work hard to find the right technical solutions, to combine practical effects with VFX, so that we can execute the film at a very high artistic level," he adds. "I think all of us in the Brazilian industry have this responsibility towards the people, to diversify what we do and to raise the quality level of our products."

"The tragedy of Batu Moush contains countless stories, many still untold or not fully understood, involving victims, family members, ordinary people, celebrities, heroes and villains," said Velas. "It's an event that never really ends. The aim of the film is therefore to present the perspective of those directly affected by the incident, both that night and the subsequent events spanning more than three decades.

Anonymous Content CEO Teixeira said "Bateau Mouche" is "deeply aligned with our mission at Anonymous: to tell stories of cultural significance."

He added: "The shipwreck, which happened moments before the beginning of 1989, was surrounded by events, both before and after the disaster, which affected the lives of dozens of families and shocked the nation." "Going back in time and mixing a real reconstruction with Shakerwhite's highly dramatic work helps bring this episode to life and illuminates irresponsible actions that have gone unrepentant and unpunished to this day."