A film by João Borges
Guaicurus Street, in the city of Belo Horizonte, has been one of the largest prostitution zones in Brazil since the 1950's. There are currently around 25 hotels in the area, gathering over three thousand sex workers. The film will reveal this enormous prostitution complex through the situations created by the relationships between its characters.
The film exists at the limit between documentary and fiction. The scenes were scripted, rehearsed and repeated, but there was a lot of room for improvisation. We worked with professional actors and non-actors as an artistic resource to balance the narrative and the recording of real life.
João Borges was born in Belo Horizonte, where he lives and works. His films have been screened at important festivals, such as Visions du Réel – Switzerland; InScience – Holland; Festival Mondial des Cinémas Sauvages – Belgium; Ciclo Integrando Miradas (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay); Bogoshort – Colombia; Mostra de Tiradentes – Brazil. His first short-film, Cajaíba (2011) was broadcasted at Canal Brasil and given the honorable mention award at Festival Lume de Cinema. Tiger (2013) was given the honorable mention award at the CurtaCinema festival (RJ - Brazil) and nominated as one of the best short-films of 2014 by the Brazilian Film Academy. In 2015, João made the documentary Moto-perpétuo, winner of Fundação Clovis Salgado's film prize. Kappa Circus (2016) competed at the Visions du Réel festival, won Best Photography at Mostra SESC de Cinema and Best Film by popular jury at the Sao Paulo Short Film Festival. Guaicurus Street is his first feature film.
Ariadina Paulino, Elizabeth Miguel, Shirley Santos, Carlos Francisco
Screenplay: João Borges
Cinematographer: Lucas Barbi
Editing: Fabian Remy
Sound: Lucas Oscilloid
Production Designer: Thais Mol
Executive Producer: Mariana Andrade
Production Company: Yara Produções
Original Title: Rua Guaicurus