Cristina Amaral

With her radical voice, visceral improvisation, and unmistakable rasp, Elza Soares created a language all her own and crossed generations, continually reinventing herself as one of Brazil’s greatest artists. In the documentary that bears her name, Elza narrates her own story, weaving together a diary of memories, desires, and reflections through music, in dialogue with historic Brazilian films. Through Elza and her nearly century-long life, the film offers an X-ray of a country in turmoil.

Dadinho, an old samba composer, is taken by his granddaughter to his brother’s funeral, composer from a rival samba school. Along this path a history of rivalry, samba and betrayal emerges from the past.

A portrait of Brazilian actress Vera Valdez, tracing her years as a model for Dior and, most notably, Coco Chanel; her flirtation with the French New Wave; her complex journey through motherhood; and her imprisonment and torture during Brazil’s military dictatorship.

Chronicles the life of military lieutenant, later communist militant and Brazilian politician Luiz Carlos Prestes.

Two tales of migration. In the first, after a tailings dam disaster floods her hometown, rural worker Joana (55) moves to São Paulo to find her sister Tania, who lives with her grandson Jaime. Joana enters the universe of insecurity, replying to an application for house cleaning. She bonds with her colleagues, and their struggle for better conditions gives Joana’s life a new meaning. Her relationship with young Jaime brings back old memories. In the second part, after the death of her estranged father, Flavia (32) moves to her farm with her wife Mara. The couple suffer a shock of reality when facing the harshness of rural life. The contact with the abandoned house reveals to Flavia unknown aspects of her father. She begins to suspect that there is something supernatural in the woods.

Silmara, an industrial worker and a woman of exuberant beauty, supports her arsonist father and gets involved with two different pop stars, from whom she learns traumatic life lessons.