CALL ME MARIA

Maria is 15 years old, and lives with her mother, Célia, and her brother Anderson in the favela of São Gonçalo, in Rio de Janeiro. She wants more than what fate traditionally has for a young black woman from favela. Maria wants to study at a “strong” school. She participates in a writing contest at a renowned private school, her writing impresses the evaluation board and it is approved. In addition to Maria, two teenagers also won scholarships: Zilton, 16, her neighbor and friend, and Aline, 15, a studious but influential girl. Although they passed the exam, the three have a big challenge ahead of them: keeping their grades high, proving they should be there and adapting to a world of privilege that never belonged to them.