Rafael Pacheco

Paulo lost hist virginity with Maria, the maid who lives in his house. Amid the chaos and nerves of youth the social differences appear when he tells that to his friend. This is my first film as a writer and director, and is the first part of trilogy of films about Brazilian teenagers.

This observational documentary was realized by filmmakers at the State University of Paraná. It follows the Federal University of Paraná’s Téssera Dance Company in black-and-white images as the group’s members prepare the dance piece “Black Dog”, a work about confronting depression, in June of 2017. The film’s story, structured in chapters, presents archetypal characters overcoming individual crises for the sake of collective expression. “The pack must walk together”, says the company’s stern but compassionate leader, within the context of a pedagogical work about the importance of a show going on.