Lucy Barreto

Passionate about the magic of cinema and historically imposed on a place of invisibility, prejudices and stereotypes, how can women challenge, break with oppression, look after precious archives, play remarkable characters, produce and direct successful films? The documentary illuminates the trajectories of dreams, challenges and victories of talented Brazilian women in our audiovisual sector.

Based on interviews with 15 women, including directors, producers and film actresses, a journey around the world is made, seeing the wars waged by each one against economic and political repression, bombs, police dogs, censors, etc. Images from England, New York, Brazil, South Africa.

Memories of a parrot who participated in the filming of the classic Vidas Secas, in 1962, where it was featured along the puppy Baleia.

In 1951, New York poet Elizabeth Bishop travels to Rio de Janeiro to visit Mary, a college friend. The shy Elizabeth is overwhelmed by Brazilian sensuality. She is the antithesis to Mary’s dashing partner, architect Lota de Macedo Soares. Mary is jealous, but unconventional Lota is determined to have both women at all costs. This eternal triangle plays out against the backdrop of the military coup of 1964. Bishop’s moving poems are at the core of a film which lushly illustrates a crucial phase in the life of this influential Pulitzer prize-winning poet.

Fernando, a journalist, and his friend César join terrorist group MR8 in order to fight Brazilian dictatorial regime during the late sixties. César, however, is wounded and captured during a bank hold up. Fernando then decides to kidnap the American ambassador in Brazil and ask for the release of fifteen political prisoners in exchange for his life.

In the 19th century, a country girl is seduced by a young doctor who's staying at her house for a few days, caring for her, and tries to hide the forbidden romance from her father, who disapproves of the relationship.

According to an amazonian legend, every month, during the full moon, a brazilian fishing village receives a mysterious guest: the Dolphin, who transforms into a human to seduce and be loved by women and hated by men. One of her conquests is the daughter of a fisherman, who has a son with the Dolphin. He constantly reappears to seduce her, and even when she marries, he continues to look for her. This provokes the ire of the husband, who wants to kill him anyway.

Fernanda is content with her life until she meets Miguel, a drug addict, bisexual male prostitute. She becomes captivated by him and leaves her family behind in favor of a new life filled with sex and debauchery.

After being forced into a marriage and enduring a humiliating work routine in the hands of his father-in-law, Zé Araújo becomes the mythical Ojuara, an unconventional hero devoted to debauchery.

The Caravana Rolidei rolls into town with the Gypsy Lord at the mike: he does magic tricks, the erotic Salomé dances, and the mute Swallow performs feats of strength. A young accordion player is completely enamored of Salomé, and he begs to come along. The Gypsy Lord shrugs, and the accordionist and his pregnant wife, Dasdô, join the troupe.

An alien, with the ability to travel through time, visits our planet at various eras.

Two friends get rich running an illegal gambling business. But soon they start to compete, and become rivals.

The story of two immigrant couples: Teresa and Angelo; Pierina and Massimo. While fighting for survival in the new world, the unexpected love of Massimo and Teresa appears. They react against family and cultural traditions and leave to a new destiny, leaving their partners. Quatrilho is the name of a card game in wich the player have to betray his partner in order to become the champion.

Romão, illiterate and unemployed, feels destiny drawing him on an odyssey to Rio de Janeiro in pursuit of a job and a decent life. A family of seven journeys 2,000 miles across the hinterlands of Brazil on bicycles. Along the way, the story explores the inner dynamics of a family facing a great challenge with the courage to pursue dreams.

An unhappily married cleaning woman in the slums of Rio entices all the money and gifts she can out of an elderly widower.

Rich and spoiled kid, frustrated for not being chosen to join the soccer lessons his idol Zico was going to give, asks his father to clone the player. But a small girl smells something fishy going on and asks her friends to help save the Brazilian soccer star.

A veteran popular singer remembers her early days before fame as a humble woman who faced many obstacles in order to achieve fame, notoriety and make her dreams come true. Her life, the songs, the men she knew and helped her on her ladder to success all have a big influence on her life.

A military man picks up a Native Brazilian woman and heads to a gold panning site where he has undisclosed business to attend to.

In the mid-1870s, Jacobina, daughter of German immigrants, became leader of a sect that believed in healing the body by cleansing the soul. After having a divine vision and speaking to Jesus, she changes her appearance and manners, disturbing the conservative population of the place. After the death of opponents of her sect, local authorities decide to take action against her and her followers.

Young guy from the poor Northeast region of Brazil comes to Rio de Janeiro to try his luck. Naturally, he is faced with many adversities along the way.

As soon as Mauro, an Administration student, discovers a strong vocation for mediumship, he drops everything to go deeper and dedicate himself to Umbanda, a religion he embraces so strongly that it makes him give up his studies. Determined to open his own spiritist center, Mauro moves to the countryside.

From Ceará to Bahia, passing through Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco (and with the counterpoint of the Northeastern diaspora in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), the documentary seeks to survey the contemporary Northeastern imaginary: a mixture of the most rich or archaic regional traditions with influences from the more modern mass culture of the era of globalization.

One of Brazil's most popular contemporary dance ensembles, Grupo Corpo combines Afro-Brazilian movements with ballet and modern dance to create an innovative and visually dynamic stage performance unlike any other. Documentarian Jürgen Wilcke gives viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of this world-renowned troupe as the 19 dancers prepare to wow audiences around the globe with their energetic presentations of grace and passion.

This documentary uncovers the relationship between the city of São Paulo and its waters, a conflicting topic that has been debated since the capital’s early days. The information offered by this film allows for a deeper understanding of the reasons why São Paulo faces so many problems with the waters it is placed over. Under all the concrete and asphalt runs a network of rivers and streams reaching over 1500km in length.