“Pureza” shows the real story of a woman who inspired the fight against slave labor in Brazil

Inspired by the real story of Pureza Lopes Loyola, whose struggle inspired the creation of the Special Mobile Inspection Group, “Pureza” shows the first action in Brazilian history aimed at combating slave labor throughout the national territory.

Dira Paes (“Divino Amor”) lives the protagonist Dona Pureza, a woman who lives in the countryside of Maranhão, where she works making bricks alongside her son Abel (Matheus Abreu). In search of a better life, the boy decides to try his luck in the Amazon mining.

After months without news of her son, Purity begins a tireless journey to discover his whereabouts. In the search for Abel, Purity discovers a cruel system of recruiting and imprisoning rural workers. She witnesses the brutal treatment of workers.

With great courage, she manages to escape from the farm and decides to report the facts to the Federal authorities. Without credibility, and fighting against a strong and perverse system, Purity returns to the farm to record evidence and put pressure on the government – never losing sight of the search for her son Abel.

Directed by Renato Barbieri (“Cora Coralina: Todas as Vidas”), “Pureza” went through several international festivals in Panama, Italy, United States and opens in national cinemas on May 19. Barbieri talked about the importance of the film:

“‘Purity’ has the potential to act preventively on this situation. When an ordinary worker sees this film, he understands the mechanics of slave labor, how enticement takes place, why his documents are confiscated.“, he pointed out.

“We will be doing many sessions in vulnerable regions to raise the country’s awareness of this issue. It is necessary to open the eyes and heart of Brazilian society to slave labor. We need to turn this page in our history.” concluded.

Asked about where the film will go, Dira Paes was emphatic: “People should see the film because this is a unique trajectory. It’s a story that repeats itself every day in Brazil.“

“The story of Purity inspired that labor laws were revised, and that a Mobile Surveillance Group was finally created against contemporary slave labor. It is a historic milestone that she has been recognized by the Nobel Prize in human rights, the Anti-Slavery Award. It is necessary to continue. We need to have examples of people like her who have gone beyond what they thought they could.“, said the actress.

will say and Renato met Pureza Loyola in person and talked about meeting the woman who inspired the film.

“I called her in Bacabal, in the heart of Maranhão, and said I wanted to make a film about her journey in search of Abel. She thought and replied: ‘Now I understand what the pastor said to me in a trance last week. He told me the eyes of the world would see me. I understood what the eyes of the world are: it’s cinema’.“, said Renato.

“She is wonderful, has conclusions of great wisdom. Dona Pureza made me understand that intelligence is an attribute of life; it is not a human exclusivity.“, said the director.

“She was already talking as if she knew me, without formalities. He already made some good-humored demands for Renato, he was already in some negotiation with him about the film (laughs). She gave me a hug full of smile. She is a fast woman, who talks, gesticulates a lot. I thought: I can’t portray her exactly like that in the movies either, they’ll think I’m exaggerating (laughs).“, joked will say.

“She showed me many photographs and interviews she gave at the time. And she told me a very important story in her life, which is not in the film: her encounter with the jaguar. I transcribed it all onto paper, and it became her speech in the movie.“, concluded the actress.