In A Vilã das Nove, Roberta (Karine Teles) is finally living the best phase of her life. Recently divorced and enjoying a new life with her daughter Nara (Laura Pessoa), Roberta feels invigorated and ready to embrace new opportunities. However, her peace is shaken when she discovers that her past, marked by difficult choices and abandonment, has been transformed into the plot of a 9pm soap opera, where she is portrayed as the villain.
A Vilã das Nove, directed by Teodoro Poppovic, is a dramatic comedy that uses the Brazilian television setting, familiar to the public, to tell a curious and humanized story. The film takes us to the world of soap operas, which makes it impossible not to immediately remember the great productions of Globo, SBT, and Record that shaped generations with their plots and memorable characters, whether through a scene or the characterization of the character within the soap opera that is in the film.
Poppovic directs a narrative that fuses the melodrama characteristic of Brazilian telenovelas with a uniquely engaging metalanguage. The script carefully treads the fine line between television fiction and real life, exploring how our personal stories can be reinterpreted and distorted when they enter the public sphere.
Roberta (Karine Teles) discovers that her life has been transformed into the plot of a prime-time soap opera on Brazilian TV where iconic characters such as Globo’s Odete Roitman and SBT’s Maria do Bairro shone brightly. The way in which Roberta’s life is meticulously unfolded, creating parallels with celebrated soap operas of the past, such as Avenida Brasil and Senhora do Destino, is at once nostalgic and innovative.
Karine Teles delivers a powerful and authentic performance as Roberta, whose existential crisis and search for redemption anchor the film emotionally. Alice Wegmann, in the role of Débora, imbued with resentment and pain, masterfully complements the interpretation of her fictional mother. The rest of the cast, including Otto Jr., Camila Márdila and Antônio Pitanga, contribute significantly to the depth and authenticity of the narrative.
The soundtrack is another highlight, ranging from classics by Marina Lima to carefully chosen international compositions. Each song is designed to underscore the drama and comedy. The photography and editing are well executed, capturing events from the present, past and the recording of the soap opera. The vocal preparation of the cast, an often overlooked part and rarely shown to the public who are unaware of the functions involved in the production of an audiovisual work, is highlighted.
The metalanguage present in the film, by showing the stages of creating a soap opera – from the conception of the script to the recordings – offers a glimpse behind the scenes of television. The dialogue that leads us to understand that “Everything is resolved in the script” encapsulates the essence of what makes a good telenovela or what leads it to its abyss, highlighting the importance of a good narrative, whether in real life or in fiction.
Vilã das Nove is not only a tribute to the world of Brazilian telenovelas, but also a deep exploration of the themes of regret, redemption and family relationships. Poppovic delivers a film that is, at the same time, a tribute and a critique of the power and influence of television productions in people’s lives. With great performances and a script with powerful dialogues, the film had its first screenings at the Rio Festival.
You can find A Vilã das Nove in the main cinemas in Brazil starting October 31st.
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