Die Sehnsucht der Schwestern Gusmao (Invisible Life, A Vida Invisível)
Brazil/Germany 2019

Opening 26 Dec 2019

Directed by: Karim Aïnouz
Writing credits: Murilo Hauser, Martha Batalha, Karim Aïnouz, Martha Batalha
Principal actors: Julia Stockler, Carol Duarte, Flávia Gusmão, António Fonseca, Hugo Cruz

In the first few moments we see sisters Guida (Julia Stockler) and Euridice (Carol Duarte) Gusmão looking for each other, lost in a jungle. And thus we have the topic for the entire film: involuntary separation with little possibility of reunification.

It’s Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s, an era when women had few chances for independent choices, careers or income, although they could dream. All is in the hand of father Manoel (António Fonseca), whose main goal is finding appropriate husbands for the girls. Guida is in love with Yorgos, whom she meets secretly. Together they run off to Athens, but the relationship is short-lived and Guida returns to Brazil, pregnant with a “bastard child.” Her father refuses to help or even to open the door into her former home. She returns to live on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, a soon-to-be single mother with no income. Manoel tells Guida that Euridice has “followed her dream and is studying music in Vienna.” Naturally a lie: she is married and living in Rio de Janeiro. (Becky Tan)