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Resilience

Meia Lua was living a normal life in a shanty town as a child in Brazil, until his legs became paralyzed due to a mistake made by the doctor. During this period he suffered from embarrassment, pain and the struggle of readjusting to his new life. Over time, Meia Lua came to realize what was really paralyzing him - his mind, perception of self, and the wheel chair.

As a result and a lot of persistence he develops his own way of walking, through using his arms as legs and hands as feet. Meia Lua was introduced to Busha, a man who is in a similar situation as him. Much like Meia Lua, Busha was also adamant that his physical disability would not prevent him from living a full life, taking part of any everyday situation and pursuing his passion - capoeira. Capoeira is a challenging type of material art born from the resistance against slavery. Meia Lua also decides to learn Capoeira. His determination to become the worlds first known Capoeira master with paralysed legs gives him courage to live using his own drive and entrepreneur skills.

Just getting around in the city proofs to be a challenge, especially when climbing up 700 steps in order to get to the bus station. Here he gets his daily income through performing, using his sandals as drumsticks and the bus interior as drum.
After his divorce Meia Lua has no other choice but to live amongst criminal gangs, such condition makes it unsafe for his son. However his son’s only wish is to be able to stay with his father.

  • Ricardo Fidelis
    Director
  • Christina Wallin
    Producer
  • Klara Grunning
    Key Cast
    Gumby Dharma
  • Marcello Benedictis
    Key Cast
  • Jessica Nettelbladt
    Dramaturge
    Jag är min egen Dolly Parto, Monalisa Story
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Resiliência
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Television
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 29, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    91,719 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, DSLR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Göteborg Film Festival
    Gothenburg, Sweden
    January 29, 2016
    World
  • Tempo Film Festival
    Stockholm
    March 11, 2016
    Swedish
  • Picture This Film Festival
    Calgary, Canada
    March 16, 2016
    North America
    Honourable Mention for Documentary 10 to 30 Minutes
  • European Film Festival Integration You and Me
    Koszalin
    Poland
    September 10, 2016
    First Honourable Mention
  • Breaking Down Barriers
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    November 12, 2016
    Best Short Documentary
Director Biography - Ricardo Fidelis

Ricardo Fidelis (born 1978 in Brazil, Bahia, Salvador) is the founder and editor at Koanuka Films & Maketing. He is program leader and editor for the web TV program “The question is” and “People”.
His first contact with Scandinavia was as a coordinator for the Norweigan University, Høgskolen i Telemark where he received photo and journalist students in Brazil.
He graduated at Glokala Medier in Sweden, Skåne, Malmö and did his practice at the local TV channel, TV Malmö.
Ricardo translated the documentary “Bikes vs Cars” from Portuguese to English for WG Film.
Resilience is his first documentary.

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Director Statement

My first passion was capoeira (Brazilian material art). In capoeira there is a tradition to choose a master. I chose my master when I met Meia Lua who got around through using his arms as legs and hands and feet, as his legs were paralyzed. Many had prejudgment about my choice since Meia Lua could not do the basic steps due to his disability.
I learned with him to be the owner of my thoughts despite any circumstances. I followed my passion and made my first documentary about Meia Lua’s mind-set.
When the audience watched Resilience they started to recognise their power to construct their life. The feedback from the audience made me discover that my life purpose was related to give other courage to embrace their uniqueness.