52 minSeason 1 • Episode 154
LatestWinner of the International Emmy Award for Best Telenovela, "Side by Side" focuses on two women of different origins and social classes. The brave Isabel, daughter of a former slave and in love with the capoeira player Zé Maria; and Laura, descendant from a wealthy family and destined to an undesired marriage to Edgar. In addition to an unshakable friendship, the two share the same purpose in life: the conquest of freedom in the conservative society of Rio de Janeiro of the early 20th century.
Acting
Camila Pitanga and Marjorie Estiano's chemistry anchors every scene.
Production
Meticulous early 1900s Rio reconstruction—every costume tells class stories.
Writing
Balancing telenovela hooks with genuine historical political complexity.
Creators
João Ximenes Braga, Claudia Lage
Camila Pitanga
Isabel Nascimento
Lázaro Ramos
Zé Maria
Marjorie Estiano
Laura Assunção Vieira
Thiago Fragoso
Edgar Vieira
Patricia Pillar
Constância Assunção, Baronesa da Boa Vista
Cássio Gabus Mendes
Bonifácio Vieira
Alessandra Negrini
Catarina Ribeiro
Rafael Cardoso
Alberto Assunção Filho ("Albertinho")
Sheron Menezzes
Berenice
Zezeh Barbosa
Tia Jurema
Milton Gonçalves
Afonso Nascimento
Caio Blat
Fernando Vieira
Werner Schünemann
Alberto Assunção, Barão da Boa Vista
Juliane Araújo
Alice de Bragança Camargo Passos
Christiana Guinle
Carlota de Bragança Camargo Passos
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
First Globo telenovela to center Afro-Brazilian female protagonist in primetime; aired during 2012 political shift that saw Dilma Rousseff's controversial presidency.
The capoeira sequences required months of training; Lázaro Ramos performed approximately 80% of his own movement work despite no prior martial arts background.
BR
