It begins in 1983 in Salvador city, with the attack against José, an ex-member of a left-wing political group. Meanwhile, his nephew Adonias is worried about an assignment his teacher has given him. Consequently, Adonias has to deal with his family's suffering, conflicts at school, and the anguish of having to write his school essay.
Direction
Rios balances child's-eye wonder with historical weight.
Writing
The essay assignment as perfect narrative device.
Acting
Wagner Moura's voice work—gentle, broken, unforgettable.
Director
Ducca Rios
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film reckons with Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, still politically charged territory. Director Ducca Rios grew up with family members who disappeared.
Animation was chosen deliberately—Rios wanted the distance of a child's drawing to make the violence bearable without making it palatable. The essay deadline ticking creates unbearable tension.
BR
