Castanha is a gay Brazilian who lives with his mother and works as an actor and drag performer in local gay clubs. He only seems to feel alive when he performs. Castanha is an actor, but without his makeup, as soon as he stops portraying something else, he ceases to matter. In his daily life, Castanha spends time with his elderly mother, who fusses about her drug-addicted grandson, Marcelo. Nightly, Castanha goes off to a club to don drag and become Maria Helena Castanha, the hostess with "beauty, sensuality, malice, and perfume." What fascinated Director about the person João Carlos Castanha (they know each other from previous collaborations) is seeing him so "on" while performing, but so contemplative when he is "off.” Talking about death, AIDS, solitude, fear, the process of giving yourself away.
Drama, Queer
1h 35min
16+
PT
SV
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IT
PT
NL
João Carlos Castanha. 52 years old. Actor. Gay. Son. Crossdresser. Capable of doing anything for those he loves. Or hates.
Castanha is a gay Brazilian who lives with his mother and works as an actor and drag performer in local gay clubs. He only seems to feel alive when he performs. Castanha is an actor, but without his makeup, as soon as he stops portraying something else, he ceases to matter.
In his daily life, Castanha spends time with his elderly mother, who fusses about her drug-addicted grandson, Marcelo. Nightly, Castanha goes off to a club to don drag and become Maria Helena Castanha, the hostess with "beauty, sensuality, malice, and perfume."
What fascinated Director about the person João Carlos Castanha (they know each other from previous collaborations) is seeing him so "on" while performing, but so contemplative when he is "off.” Talking about death, AIDS, solitude, fear, the process of giving yourself away.