The family story that became a TV novela
A Brazilian tale of love, betrayal and revenge that became the subject of plays, an opera and even a TV novela, but for the family behind it - it was very real.
Aged 11, Dirce de Assis Cavalcanti was taunted by one of her classmates. She was called the “daughter of a murderer”. Not long after, Dirce found out that her father had indeed killed a man and not just any man, he’d killed one of Brazil’s celebrated authors, a national treasure. Although he was cleared by the courts, who declared the shooting an act of self-defence, in the court of public opinion Dirce’s dad was condemned.
The story behind that fateful killing is one of love, betrayal and revenge. And it is a story that throughout her life Dirce has grappled with in her attempts to rebuild her family’s reputation. This episode was first broadcast on 21st December 2019.
Presenter: Andrea Kennedy
Producer: Andrea Kennedy and Deiniol Buxton
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
(Photo: Dirce de Assis Cavalcanti Credit: BBC)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 18 Dec 202109:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 19 Dec 202100:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 19 Dec 202109:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sun 19 Dec 202122:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
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