This moving film tells the story of the financial crisis in Brazil by focusing on the famed Rio de Janeiro opera house, the Theatro Municipal. Elegant black-and-white cinematography universalizes the plight of dancers, musicians, and staff who attempt to maintain a beloved cultural institution. “With this crisis, we began to dance in exchange for rice and beans,” says one ballerina; performers and workers announce to the audience that they haven’t been paid for months and later rally in the street in front of the theater. Three main characters—João, a longtime usher at the theater, and two dancers, Marcia and Filipe—cope with the increasing political tension across the country. Can Brazil’s most noted artists continue to survive on odd jobs and charity? The drama intensifies when mass demonstrations and state violence unfold. As the situation deteriorates, musicians debate their options, dancers consider fleeing the country or driving for Uber, and workers try to protect their families.  NK

Filmmaker Q&A following screening