Experiencing Interruptions?

Science of Resistance

Science of Resistance follows the struggle of the scientist Dr. Alexandre Bello and his students to continue their research in Tropical Disease in an ongoing political and economic crisis in Brazil. 
The Narrative put together the work of graduate students of BioMedicine at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), with medical care at the hospital for infectious diseases at Fiocruz, protests of cuts in education on streets and work on disease prevention in public schools.
The main character of the film is professor and scientist Alexandre Bello who created the parasitology laboratory with investments from the World Health Organization. However, he currently finds it difficult to complete his research. In 2017, he did not receive any money and he struggled to continue supporting his autistic son.
Alexandre is black and comes from a very simple family and even with all the obstacles of cuts in science, the scientist resists every day and is an example for his students, helping them not to give up on their dreams and creating extension projects that help children in public schools to protect themselves from disease.
Science of Resistance is very current and raises a very relevant discussion for the moment that we are living today with COVID - 19. Even Dr. Alexandre Bello's brother died of COVID -19 in May and we put a memory to him at the end of the film. 
The film also shows the enormous problem that developing countries have with Tropical Diseases, which are neglected by society and kill millions of people, especially those who live in poverty.

  • Larissa Karl
    Director
  • Larissa Karl
    Writer
  • Larissa Karl
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Student, Television
  • Runtime:
    1 hour
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Larissa Karl

I'm MA Film student from London College of Communication of the University of the Arts London with 15 years of experience in the Film and TV industry. I've been working in the development and all stages of the production in TV programmes, documentaries and digital media of prestigious companies from Latin America and the UK. Recently I received a grant and one year mentoring from One World Media to make my first feature and graduation film documentary called "Science of Resistance". www.larissakarl.tv

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The whole production process of this film touched me a lot. Because I had the opportunity to know in general and deeply the importance of science in all aspects of our life. However, I tried to bring the figure of the scientist closer to the viewer. The film tells the story of the struggle and life of Brazilian scientists and students in a very humanized and close way. As well as showing the importance of introducing the taste of science from an early age in children. The film begins and ends with prevention work in schools. I think it is a very beautiful film, humanized and relevant to the current moment. The narrative mixes interviews with the context and current life of the characters. It is as if the viewer is currently following the problem in real time.