MAIDS (DOMESTICAS) Latin Cinema Series

A colorful, spirited look at the lives of a handful of indefatigable maids
in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Co-writers/ directors Fernando Meirelles and
Nando Oliva! beautifully weave the women’s stories of hope, heartbreak
and resiliency with just the right blend of humor and respect.
Quiterio, like her mother before her, is a maid in the bustling city of Sao
Paolo. So is Cida, who protectively looks after Quiterio, securing her
new jobs after Quiterio is repeatedly fired. Roxanne is a maid, but
dreams of being an actress. Raimundo longs to be married, while
Roxanne simply wishes her lifeless husband would move from his chair.
All the while, Creo agonizes over the disappearance of her grown
daughter. In an interesting choice, the maids’ bosses are never seen,
emphasizing this is much more a story of human spirit than a commentary
on class.
This rich and satisfying film about strong, funny, brave women has been
an international festival favorite, with screenings at the Edinburgh,
Karlovy Vary, Montreal and Melbourne Film Festivals. -Margaret Black