Rising Sun Blues

Rua dos Anjos

An actress asks a sex worker to help her create a film in which they share secrets of their professions, and they become both filmmakers and characters.

It began with Brazilian actor Renata Ferraz’s desire to examine the connection between sex work and acting. She approached former sex worker María Roxo with the idea of collaborating on a project that would involve exchanging information and little-known details about their professions. Opening on a theatrical set-up inside a film studio, Renata’s conversation with María about her experiences makes her realise that, despite their differences, they share instances of abuse, coercion and violence. As the film progresses, the line between Renata and Maria’s worlds blur, with unexpected results.

Content Guidance: The film contains discussions about sex.