América Armada

In this visual essay, Ana Costa Ribeiro uses personal archives to delve into the adventurous, relatively short life of her grandfather Joaquim da Costa Ribeiro, a pioneer in experimental physics in Brazil in the middle of the last century. He was the discoverer of the thermodielectric effect: “something to do with lightning,” as it was explained in a child’s terms to his granddaughter.

Two teenagers from opposite sides of town, with very little in common except for their passion for music meet in 1970's Rio de Janeiro, at the height of the military dictatorship _ and of Brazil's booming underground rock scene.

In Rio de Janeiro, over many days, the director Maria Ramos witnesses and films the judgment of several teenagers accused of stealing, trafficking and murdering. Underage youths are protected by the Brazilian laws and their faces can not be exposed; therefore, they are replaced by teenagers from poor communities.

Although Fatima, Brandy, Ana and Cecilia have never met, their life stories seem connected. Despite their difference in age, origin and skin color, they are all Latin American women affected by violence. Set in Mexico, Honduras, Brazil and Argentina, this full-length documentary recounts their stories of vulnerability and strength. Despite all these contrasts, their stories align and rhyme with each other.