The documentary retrieves the history of Circo Teatro Guarany, founded shortly after the abolition by João Alves da Silva, a black man son of a slaved mother.

In her father’s ring, Maria Eliza gave life to the clown Xamego, a character that accompanied her until her old age. The artist, who began performing her clown in the 1940’s, was a pioneer in female clowning in Brazil, explains her granddaughter Mariana Gabriel, director of this series.

The filmmaker leads the narrative, divided into four episodes, based on the relationship between her grandmother and her mother, Deise Alves dos Reis Gabriel. Although caring for the circus, as a child Deise saw Xamego as a displeasing figure – to her, the clown stole her own mother.

From a dialogue with Deise, Mariana retraces the history of Guarany and appeases family grievances. “It’s my mother’s journey, a way to give new meaning to the circus memory, which was a difficult period for her,” says the director. Throughout the conversations, she interweaves personal relationships, walks through the São Paulo of the mid-century – a time when the circus stopped traveling through cities and started circulating in the capital – and discusses memory, gender issues, blackness and racism.

TECHNICAL SHEET
Direction: Mariana Gabriel
Research, production and script: Daise Gabriel and Roberto Salim Gabriel
Child actress: Serena Odara
Cinematography: Thyago Ribeiro
Art and costume design: Valentina Aires
Animation and art: Jéssica Lima
Soundtrack: Georgia Cynara
Editing and finalization: Guga Pacheco and Carolina Vinagre
Graphic design: Teo Menna

Watch here.