Jéssica Barbosa

The third episode of the Cities of Love franchise, Rio, I Love You is an anthology, created by 10 visionary directors from across the globe. The story line of each segment focuses on an encounter of love in a different neighborhood of the city, demonstrating the distinctive qualities and character of that location. The film serves to bridge gaps between cultures, educating and entertaining the audience, while celebrating unique and universal expressions of love.

At the age of nine, Rebeca is sold by her grandmother to the bookseller who ran Rocinha. Disputed by bicheiros and drug dealers, the community is going through changes in power. Rebeca becomes the wife of the chief drug dealer and, with the death of her partner, his successor. The electrifying trajectory of crime, violence, drugs and love of a female drug kingpin in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s.

Rio de Janeiro, 2016: the city simmers in anticipation of the Olympic Games. Lawyer Ana defends the interests of residents of homes to be replaced by stadiums, roads and luxury hotels. Is the heat affecting her perception or is the struggle becoming visible on her skin?

Based on the life of a legendary capoeira fighter from Bahia, "Besouro" spins a fantastic tale of a young Brazilian man of African descent in search of his mission.

Kelson is a young worker who uses his motorcycle to escape the police and win Neide's love. He buys a new motorcycle from swindler Fernando, without knowing that it belonged to a dangerous drug dealer, who got out of prison and now wants it back.

A 20-year-old woman begins to question the experiences of women in society; she meets researchers and people who work on the gender issue to better discuss and understand the struggles and differences that women face in their daily lives.