black and white bed linen

Luiza's Desert (Release 2026)

A delicate coming-of-age portrait set against the backdrop of family collapse, where art, grief, and hope intertwine in a young girl’s search for identity.

SYNOPSIS:

Fifteen-year-old Luiza, shy and awkward, has always felt like an outsider in the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro. Dreaming of becoming an artist, she finally finds her place among a group of graffiti artists, where life starts to feel full of color and possibility. But just as she begins to carve out her own identity, her world unravels—her mother suffers a severe schizophrenic episode, her father drifts further away with his mistress, and her younger sister is sent to live with their aunt.

Forced to grow up too soon, Luiza must navigate fear, loneliness, and the weight of responsibility as she takes over the household and cares for her mother. In the face of heartbreak and adversity, she embarks on a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and artistic expression—learning that sometimes, the most powerful act of rebellion is holding on to hope.

Co-Production: Union

Production: Caraminhola

Producers: Natasha Murphy & Daniela Vitorino

Screenwriter e Director: Alan Minas

Executive Producers: Daniela Vitorino, Natasha Murphy

Director of photography: Bernardo Richter

Cast: Nina Prado, Daniela Fontan, Veronica Debom, Thelmo Fernandes, Andre Luiz Miranda.

Production Manager: Leilah Oliveira

Production Design: Oswaldo Eduardo Lioi

Art Coordinator: Delvo Simões

Cast preparation: Alan Minas

Assistant Director: Bia Salgado

2a assistant de camera: Julia Reishoffer

Post-production Supervisor: Elisa Bedran

Costume Design: Marcela Poloni

Assistant Costume Design: Rafaela Rocha

Editor: Ale Taira

Production Sound Mixer: Bruno Espirito Santo

Original Score Composer: Clower Curtis

Song: "Desculpe Babe" dos Mutantes.