A Pessoa É Para o Que Nasce (2003)

Three blind sisters, Regina, Maria and Conceição, earn their living by singing in front of churches, in Brazil... They tell their amazing stories, full of drama, heartache, rape, poverty, death and hope.

Directors:

Roberto Berliner, Leonardo Domingues

Writer:

Mauricio Lissovski

Stars:

Regina Barbosa, Maria das Neves Barbosa, Conceição Barbosa

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Regina Barbosa	...	Herself
Maria das Neves Barbosa	...	Herself
Conceição Barbosa	...	Herself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Regina Casé	...	Herself (archive footage)
Dalvinha	...	Herself
Lula	...	Himself (as Luis Inácio Lula da Silva)

Storyline

In Campina Grande, Northeastern of Brazil, the three fifty and something year old illiterate Barbosa sisters (Maria das Neves a.k.a. "Maroca", Regina a.k.a."Poroca" and Conceição a.k.a. "Indaiá") are daughters of cousins and born blind. They have survived playing "ganzá" and begging on the streets of Campina Grande since their childhood. The director Roberto Berliner discloses in this remarkable documentary their sad stories, with poverty, rape, abuse inclusive sexual and love, but never corny; on the contrary, with a great message of strength, faith and hope.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

TV Zero

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

23 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Born to Be Blind

Filming Locations:

Brazil

Company Credits

Production Co:

TV Zero

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 85 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited from A Pessoa É Para o Que Nasce (2002)

User Reviews

The Three Blind Sisters of Campina Grande

In Campina Grande, Northeastern of Brazil, the three fifty and something year old illiterate Barbosa sisters (Maria das Neves a.k.a. "Maroca", Regina a.k.a."Poroca" and Conceição a.k.a. "Indaiá") are daughters of cousins and born blind. They have survived playing "ganzá" and begging on the streets of Campina Grande since their childhood. The director Roberto Berliner discloses in this remarkable documentary their sad stories, with poverty, rape, abuse inclusive sexual and love, but never corny; on the contrary, with a great message of strength, faith and hope.

My brother was born in Rio de Janeiro, but he moved to and settled in Campina Grande in the 80's and he told me that the Barbosa sisters are very popular in this town. The wonderful work of the also "carioca" (born in Rio de Janeiro) Roberto Berliner was very important to the sisters that became famous in Brazil, inclusive participating of a concert with Brazilian Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil, and improved their lives getting also a new house. Roberto Berliner interacts in many footages, and I particularly loved when he tells that he gave part of what he earned in his first documentary of 1998 to the Barbosa sisters. Further, when Maria confesses that she had fallen in love for Roberto Berliner in an awesome moment of this beautiful documentary. My only remark is its long running time, which could be a little shorter. I recommend this documentary to overseas viewers that expect to watch a different reality in this contemporary global world. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Pessoa É Para o Que Nasce" ("The Person Is For What She Is Born")