The ’68 Generation, which elevated youth as a value, now reinvents old age. Tetê Moraes, at 81, captures this journey in Maravilhosas.

Maravilhosas, a feature-length documentary, tells the story of women who witnessed and took part in Brazil’s major social and political transformations over recent decades. Born in the post-war era, they were raised under the myth of male superiority, but as young women, they engaged in or observed closely the struggles that shaped Brazilian society and the world. Despite their significant contributions to building the country, these women, now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, face the last taboo: aging and the ageism that renders them invisible. The documentary sheds light on their memories and the importance of their roles in shaping Brazil’s social and cultural values.

Through meetings, testimonials, and roundtable discussions, director Tetê Moraes retraces the lives and legacies of 15 inspiring women in Maravilhosas, creating a unique portrait of Brazil through their collective stories.

Tetê Moraes, now 81, has five award-winning feature films, as well as medium- and short-length films, in which her aesthetic vision reflects a profound admiration for these women’s experiences, as well as a love for life and for Brazil.

Tetê aims to construct a portrait of Brazil over the last five decades through the eyes of these “marvelous” women she met along the way, sharing experiences and witnessing the transformations of Brazil and the world.

The documentary celebrates these women’s contributions, challenges stereotypes, and promotes a new understanding of aging and their role in Brazilian society.

The film’s narrative is enriched by feminist texts read by some of the documentary’s artists/characters and by archival images that place individual experiences within a broader panorama of Brazilian history and the feminist movement.

By interweaving personal conversations with readings from works by feminists who shaped their worldview, the film seeks to create an engaging and inspiring narrative.

Maravilhosas is a celebration of the diversity and vitality of older women, highlighting their stories as an essential part of Brazil’s social fabric and their fundamental role in building the country.

Director and Screenwriter: Tetê Moraes

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