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Victor is a poor and submissive man who serves his general and the palace of an aristocratic family. Haunted by the red lips of his beloved Maria, he suffers unbearable hallucinations that lead him to the great precipice of death. “Illicit Trade” explores 3 texts by Georg Büchner - "Woyzeck", "Leonce and Lena" and “The Hessian Courier". A film adaptation of the German author's literary universe that is as anachronistic as imminently actual.

Born in Lisbon, in 1977, Pedro Paiva has been working in collaboration with João Maria Gusmão since 2001, using film as a privileged medium. In 2004 they won the EDP New Artists Award. In 2009, they were the Portuguese representatives at the 53rd Venice Biennale. His filmic work was presented at Anthology Film Archives New York (2010), Palais de Tokyo Paris (2013), HangarBicocca Milan (2013), Pompidou Metz (2017), Serralves Porto (2021). "Illicit Trade" is Pedro Paiva's first feature film.