Name: Lara
Director: Ana Maria Magalhães
Genre: Drama
Released: 2002-08-20
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 7.3
Cast: Christine Fernandes, Caco Ciocler, Tuca Andrada, Maria Manoella, Camilo Bevilacqua

She had the world at her feet — then traded it for God. What broke?

melancholic glamourBrazilian New Wave nostalgiaquiet rebellion

Overview

Drama

The life of Brazilian actress Odete Lara, muse of the movement called Cinema Novo in Brazil, who exchanged stardom for a quiet and religious life.

BR Portuguese

Content warning

artistic sacrificespiritual reinventionfame as prisonfemale agency in patriarchal cinema

Standout Aspects

Acting

Christine Fernandes captures Lara's haunting stillness

Direction

Magalhães mirrors Cinema Novo's raw visual language

Costume

The transformation from silver screen goddess to penitent

Best for:Solo·Streaming

Heads up:Emotional

Director

Ana Maria Magalhães

ReleasedAug 20, 2002

Runtime1h 47m

StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow

Intensitymedium

Tonedark

Feelheavy

Nova Era Produções de Arte Ltda.

Secretaria para o Desenvolvimento do Audiovisual

Top Cast

Christine Fernandes

Lara

Caco Ciocler

Guima

Tuca Andrada

Eric

Maria Manoella

Lara (Jovem)

Camilo Bevilacqua

Francesco

Ana Beatriz Nogueira

Marta

Gilberto Gawronski

Iberê

Emílio de Mello

Luigi

Mariana Lima

Dora

Heloísa Périssé

Cinira

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Cinema Novo (1960s-70s) was Brazil's answer to Italian Neorealism and French New Wave — Lara was literally its face before she vanished from public life entirely in 1972.

Insight

The real Odete Lara refused all interviews for 30 years; this film was made without her participation, making it an act of cinematic séance.