Laerte is a promising musician who has a breakdown in the middle of an audition for a place at Osesp. He misses the chance to work for the biggest symphonic orchestra in Latin America, and, frustrated, he goes to teach in a favela called Heliópolis. At the school, surrounded by poverty and violence, he rediscovers music in such a passionate way that it rubs off on the young students. Based on the true story of the formation of the Symphonic Orchestra of Heliópolis, the film tells the moving story of a musician and his students, who had their lives transformed by art.
Sérgio Machado
He was Walter Salles’ assistant director for the films Central Station, Midnight and Behind the Sun, the latter for which he also wrote the script. He also co-wrote Madame Satã, by Karim Ainouz. Lower City (2005) won best film at the Rio and Havana Film Festivals, as well as the Youth Prize in Cannes. He also directed the documentaries Aqui deste lugar (2015) and At the Edge of the Earth (2002), as well as series such as Alice (2007).
