Past waterfalls, granite cliffs and ocean swells on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro sisters Euridice and Guida momentarily lose each other as they weave through the dense forest. The sisters call out in alarm. Finding each other again, they embrace with such passion as if they have not been together in years.
Soon however the sisters find themselves far apart. Guida falls for a Greek sailor and departs with him in the night on a ship to Athens. She later returns to Rio de Janeiro single and pregnant, but by this time she is not welcome back. Father and daughter exchange angry words. "You are no longer my daughter," he declares. It is the 1950s and Guida discovers what it means to be a woman alone in the world. The father lies to both sisters, telling Guida that Euridice is in Vienna. As a piano prodigy it was always her dream to go there. Euridice is married and not informed that Guida returned. Each sister believes the other is on the far side of the world when in fact they are in the same city. "I begin to trace a new path that will take me back to you," writes Guida, but there is no answer. As their fortunes rise and fall the sisters continue to search for each other, but both Guida and Euridice become invisible in different ways.
Invisible Life is a sensual, colorful and heart-rending story of feminine resilience. Brazilians are a deeply passionate people. At a restaurant in Sao Paulo I witnessed a mother greet her little daughter, who was gone for only a few minutes to get her breakfast at a buffet, and when they reunited they embraced and kissed like they were apart for years. This passion and love is evident throughout the film and infused in the forest, the rising and falling sea, and the outstretched arms of Christ looking over Rio de Janiero. This beautiful film is the Un Certain Regard winner at Cannes and is based on The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao by Martha Batalha.
Soon however the sisters find themselves far apart. Guida falls for a Greek sailor and departs with him in the night on a ship to Athens. She later returns to Rio de Janeiro single and pregnant, but by this time she is not welcome back. Father and daughter exchange angry words. "You are no longer my daughter," he declares. It is the 1950s and Guida discovers what it means to be a woman alone in the world. The father lies to both sisters, telling Guida that Euridice is in Vienna. As a piano prodigy it was always her dream to go there. Euridice is married and not informed that Guida returned. Each sister believes the other is on the far side of the world when in fact they are in the same city. "I begin to trace a new path that will take me back to you," writes Guida, but there is no answer. As their fortunes rise and fall the sisters continue to search for each other, but both Guida and Euridice become invisible in different ways.
Invisible Life is a sensual, colorful and heart-rending story of feminine resilience. Brazilians are a deeply passionate people. At a restaurant in Sao Paulo I witnessed a mother greet her little daughter, who was gone for only a few minutes to get her breakfast at a buffet, and when they reunited they embraced and kissed like they were apart for years. This passion and love is evident throughout the film and infused in the forest, the rising and falling sea, and the outstretched arms of Christ looking over Rio de Janiero. This beautiful film is the Un Certain Regard winner at Cannes and is based on The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao by Martha Batalha.