DIAZUL DE CINEMA PRESENTS
MARIA LUIZA
DIRECTED BY MARCELO DÍAZ
First Transgender in the Brazilian Armed Forces
NEWS
WATCH NOW
SYNOPSIS
Maria Luiza da Silva is the first transgender in the history of the Brazilian Armed Forces. After 22 years working as a military officer, she was retired due to disability. The movie investigates the motivations for her prohibition to wear the female uniform and her trajectory into affirmation as a transgender, military officer, and Catholic woman.
TRAILER
THE FILM
Unlike most usual transgender personalities portrayed in the media, Maria Luiza is modest, shy, and observant. She dresses and treats others formally. She is Catholic, loves auto racing and takes care of her car in the same manner she took care of the Brazilian Air Force aircrafts
The movie strives to look into the following questions:
-
What is the difference between Maria Luiza before and after her transition?
-
What would incapacitate her for military service?
-
What risks would her presence in the Brazilian Air Force bring?
-
In what way is the military decision of removing her from service a consequence of our society?
To do so the film uses archives of her own drawings, paintings and photos to guide through her subjectivity. It also arranges meetings with colleagues, prosecutors, and judges who actively took part in her case and, especially, with Maria Luiza herself.
The film exposes the human rights violation in Maria Luiza’s case and invites the spectator to think about the freedom one has to express one's own identity.
DIRECTOR
Brazilian award-winning filmmaker and impact producer, based in Brasilia/Brazil, who seeks to produce films as a means of transformation. Marcelo Díaz has directed and produced documentaries and fiction short films screened in over 60 festivals around the world and in TV channels. MARIA LUIZA is his first feature film.
FILMS
Maria Luiza
(2019, 80')
CREW
PRODUCED BY
DIAZUL DE CINEMA
FUNDED BY
DF Culture Support Fund
(FAC / Department of Culture and Creative Economy of the Federal District)
DIRECTOR
Marcelo Diaz
MAIN CAST
Maria Luiza da Silva
SCRIPT AND RESEARCH
Marcelo Diaz
PRODUCER
Marcelo Diaz
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR (FAC)
Daniela Marinho
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Daniela Marinho
Ana Paula Rabelo
CINEMATOGRAPHY
André Carvalheira
PHOTOS
Diego Bresani
SOUND
Hudson Vasconcelos
ADDITIONAL SOUND
Francisco Craesmeyer
Marcos Manna
Anderson Rosatto
EDITING
Sérgio Azevedo
ARTS AND ANIMATION
Marcia Roth
COLOR GRADING
Junior Xis
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Sascha Kratzer
Rafael Maklon
ADDITIONAL MUSIC
Cristiano Luiz Panerari
SOUND DESIGN AND MIX
Ricardo Reis, ABC
SOUND EDITING SUPERVISOR
Miriam Biderman, ABC
LOCAL PRODUCTION (Rio)
Ylla Gomes
SOUND (Rio)
Fábio Carneiro Leão
JP Fonseca
IMPACT PRODUCERS
Marcelo Diaz, Rossana Giesteira,
Mariana Alves
THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL DISTRICT FUND TO SUPPORT CULTURE.
PRODUCTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
LAB 2018
MEETINGS 2018
IMPACT
After 20 years of struggle, in 2020 Maria Luiza da Silva was granted the right to retire as a non-commissioned officer, the highest rank she could have achieved if she had remained on active duty.
In a decision by Justice minister Herman Benjamin, which was then unanimously confirmed by a panel of ministers, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) recognized the discrimination she had suffered.
The debate generated by the film contributed directly to the visibility of the case, and was even mentioned in the STJ's decision. However, the Air Force, through the AGU (Attorney Federal General's Office), appealed for years, trying to prevent compliance with the STJ's decision.
On June 28, 2024, LGBTQIAPN+ Pride Day, Maria Luiza had excellent news. The STJ did not accept the last appeal by the AGU lawyers, which this time gave up further appeals.
MARIA LUIZA is officially a WIINNER!
-
Find out more about the impacts and actions carried out in our IMPACT CAMPAIGN
-
Visit the Latin American Impact Film Library
TAKE THE FILM TO YOUR COMMUNITY, INSTITUTION, COMPANY
We are looking for initiatives that provide spaces for inclusion, celebration and inspiration in the public and private spheres for the trans population and the field of human rights.
If you are interested in holding an event with a screening of the film and a debate with Maria Luiza da Silva and director Marcelo Díaz, please send an email to:
HOW TO ENGAGE AND HELP
1
Recommend and offer job opportunities to trans people.
2
Follow, share and give visibility to job initiatives for trans people.
3
Question, position yourself, do not stand by and allow transphobic situations to occur.
4
Find out about gender and transphobia issues.
5
Follow social network profiles and consume content produced by trans people
6
Collaborate and give visibility to campaigns in favor of trans people
Book with photos by Diego Bresani from the film MARIA LUIZA.
Special participation - drawings by Maria Luiza da Silva
MARIA LUIZA, PLACES AND CONTEXTS
DIEGO BRESANI