Uz, Portugal. A mountain region deserted through immigration. Only a few dozen farmers remain to work and carry on local traditions. While the immutable cycle of the four seasons and agricultural work dominates their lives, the young shepherd Daniel dreams of finding a woman to share his life with.

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The original title means "back to earth" and director João Pedro Plácido’s project consists of just that: going back, going in close and listening to a world forgotten by almost everyone – the Uz region in northern Portugal, which he explored during vacation with his co-writer, and where his family comes from. The great strength of (Be)Longing is its ability to film, capture and shed light on these ordinary men and women, their extraordinary daily lives that are so far from the modern world. The documentary is practically a medium for time travel, with its outmoded traditions and almost virgin landscapes, offering a sensitive and endearing portrait of a community threatened by the modern world. Nevertheless, (Be)Longing does not go very far beyond the obvious, resulting in nothing more than a generic documentary.