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Elena streaming

2013 Movie Brazil, United States Drama, Documentary, Biography 82 min Ages 16+
By: Petra Costa With: Petra Costa, Elena Andrade, Li An

Elena, a young Brazilian woman, travels to New York with the same dream as her mother, to become a movie actress. She leaves behind her childhood spent in hiding during the years of the military dictatorship. She also leaves Petra, her seven year old sister. Two decades later, Petra also becomes an actress and goes to New York in search of Elena. She only has a few clues about her: home movies, newspaper clippings, a diary and letters. At any moment Petra hopes to find Elena walking in the streets in a silk blouse. Gradually, the features of the two sisters are confused; we no longer know one from the other. When Petra finally finds Elena in an unexpected place, she has to learn to let her go.

Filmium rating
75%

Festival Achievements

Visions du Réel 2020
Selections:
Atelier Petra Costa
International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam 2012
Nominations:
IDFA Competition for First Appearance
Selections:
IDFA Archive

Mood

Emotional
Melancholic
Reflective
Touching

Cast & Crew

Petra Costa
Carolina Ziskind
Elena Andrade
Li An

Budget

Low-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Archival Footage
Home Video Footage
Interview-Based
Narrative Blending
Self-Filmed

Narrative Structure

Nonlinear
Personal Essay

Pace

Contemplative
Deliberate
Slow-Paced

Runtime

Long Runtime

Soundtrack

Intimate Music
Original Soundtrack

Style

Biographical
Documentary
Intimate
Personal

Time-Period

1970S
1980S
Post-Military Dictatorship

Central Conflict

Long Separation
Loss
Search For Sister

Characters

Elena Andrade
Mother
Petra Costa

Ending

Acceptance
Bittersweet
Memorial

Historical Context

Brazilian Military Dictatorship
Post-Dictatorship Era

Key Plot Points

Elena'S Move To New York
Filming Memories
Return To Brazil

Plot

Family Separation
Loss
Loss And Grief
Memory
Sisterhood

Setting

Bahia
Brazil
Cultural Backdrop
New York
São Paulo

Shooting Location

Bay
Brazil
New York
Saint Sebastian

Theme

Family Bonds
Family Dynamics
Loss
Loss And Grief
Memory

Genre

Biographical
Documentary
Drama

Audiences

Adults
Art-House Viewers
Documentary Enthusiasts
Documentary Lovers
Film Enthusiasts

Titles

Elena

Reception

Awards
Awards At Festival De Brasília
Critical Acclaim
Film Festivals

Production Countries

Brazil
United States

Release Year

2013
mowizz ID: f36f7128-434c-4f30-8238-6a6908b0ca3f
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