Leona Cavalli

Alleyona Canedo da Silva ( Rosário do Sul , November 6 , 1969 ), better known as Leona Cavalli , is a Brazilian actress and theater director . She is the winner of several awards, including an APCA Award , two Brazil Quality Awards , a Shell Award , and a Guarani Award , as well as having received nominations for three Grande Otelo Awards . Leona made her debut in professional theater at the age of 16, participating in a production of Waltz No. 6 . After studying theater at PUC in São Paulo , she took part in other productions of classic plays, such as Farsa by Inês Pereira and Auto da Barca do Inferno . [ 2 ] She received critical acclaim for her performance in the film Um Céu de Estrelas (1996), where she played hairdresser Dalva, who lives in a dark and violent relationship with her husband. For her work, she won the APCA Award for Best Actress in Cinema , the Candango Award for Best Actress at the Brasília Festival , as well as receiving her first of four nominations for the Guarani Award . [ 3 ] In 2000 she began playing Geni in the play Toda Nudez Ser Castigada , a play written by Nelson Rodrigues in 1965 , for which she won the Shell Award for Best Actress . In 2002 she was praised for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in the play A Streetcar Named Desire , selling the Prêmio Qualidade Brasil for Best Actress in a Drama Play. [ 4 ] Cavalli made her television debut in a special appearance in the series Os Normais , on TV Globo , in 2002. In the same year, she ...

Carandiru (2003)

Thought provokingViolentDisturbingDark

When a doctor decides to carry out an AIDS prevention program inside Latin America’s largest prison: the Casa de Detenção de São Paulo - Carandiru, he discovers the victim of one of the darkest days in Brazilian History when the State of São Paulo’s Military Police ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Héctor Babenco
CAST:  Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos  •  Milton Gonçalves  •  Ivan de Almeida  •  Aílton Graça

When a doctor decides to carry out an AIDS prevention program inside Latin America’s largest prison: the Casa de Detenção de São Paulo - Carandiru, he discovers the victim of one of the darkest days in Brazilian History when the State of São Paulo’s Military Police ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Héctor Babenco
CAST:  Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos  •  Milton Gonçalves  •  Ivan de Almeida  •  Aílton Graça

Up Against Them All (2004)

A story about the lies, treachery and vengeance of a middle-class family living on the outskirts of São Paulo. Four characters try desperately to change their lives, but are unable to escape their destiny.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roberto Moreira
CAST:  Aílton Graça  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Sílvia Lourenço  •  Gustavo Machado

A story about the lies, treachery and vengeance of a middle-class family living on the outskirts of São Paulo. Four characters try desperately to change their lives, but are unable to escape their destiny.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roberto Moreira
CAST:  Aílton Graça  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Sílvia Lourenço  •  Gustavo Machado

A Starry Sky (1996)

A woman ready to move away from Brazil is kidnapped by her jealous ex-lover.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tata Amaral
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Paulo Vespúcio  •  Lígia Cortez  •  Néa Simões

A woman ready to move away from Brazil is kidnapped by her jealous ex-lover.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tata Amaral
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Paulo Vespúcio  •  Lígia Cortez  •  Néa Simões

Mango Yellow (2002)

In a poor neighborhood in Recife, the lives of exotic and bizarre characters entwine in a bar and in a very low-budget hotel. The queer Dunga works in the hotel and has a crush on the butcher Wellington that is married with the religious Kika and has an affair with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cláudio Assis
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Matheus Nachtergaele  •  Jonas Bloch  •  Dira Paes

In a poor neighborhood in Recife, the lives of exotic and bizarre characters entwine in a bar and in a very low-budget hotel. The queer Dunga works in the hotel and has a crush on the butcher Wellington that is married with the religious Kika and has an affair with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cláudio Assis
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Matheus Nachtergaele  •  Jonas Bloch  •  Dira Paes

Olga (2004)

Based upon the true story of Olga Benário, the German-born wife of Brazilian communist leader Luís Carlos Prestes. During the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas (1930-1945) she was arrested and sent to Nazi Germany, where she was put to death in a concentration camp. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jayme Monjardim
CAST:  Camila Morgado  •  Caco Ciocler  •  Edgar Amorim  •  Leona Cavalli

Based upon the true story of Olga Benário, the German-born wife of Brazilian communist leader Luís Carlos Prestes. During the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas (1930-1945) she was arrested and sent to Nazi Germany, where she was put to death in a concentration camp. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jayme Monjardim
CAST:  Camila Morgado  •  Caco Ciocler  •  Edgar Amorim  •  Leona Cavalli

Cafundó (2005)

Cafundó is a 35 mm color film which blends fact with fiction in the life of João de Camargo, a former black slave (1858-1942, Sorocaba, Brazil) who, in his old age, works miracles and devotes himself to assisting others in order to attain his freedom. João de ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paulo Betti  •  Clovis Bueno
CAST:  Lázaro Ramos  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Leandro Firmino  •  Alexandre Rodrigues

Cafundó is a 35 mm color film which blends fact with fiction in the life of João de Camargo, a former black slave (1858-1942, Sorocaba, Brazil) who, in his old age, works miracles and devotes himself to assisting others in order to attain his freedom. João de ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paulo Betti  •  Clovis Bueno
CAST:  Lázaro Ramos  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Leandro Firmino  •  Alexandre Rodrigues

Golden Oldies 2 (2013)

The heroes of Golden Oldies 1— Juca, PR, and Montanha — are back, following different routes. Montanha lives in an old mansion and gets ready to reunite with his friends. Once together again, the three friends get into hilarious situations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hugo Carvana
CAST:  Paulo Betti  •  José Wilker  •  Betty Faria  •  Leona Cavalli

The heroes of Golden Oldies 1— Juca, PR, and Montanha — are back, following different routes. Montanha lives in an old mansion and gets ready to reunite with his friends. Once together again, the three friends get into hilarious situations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hugo Carvana
CAST:  Paulo Betti  •  José Wilker  •  Betty Faria  •  Leona Cavalli

Anna K. (2014)

Joana suffers from a double personality and is obsessed with Anna Karenina, the character from Tolstoy's novel. Embodying the myth of Narcissus, Anna K. is the image and resemblance of Joana, stronger and more seductive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  José Roberto Aguilar
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Vadim Nikitin

Joana suffers from a double personality and is obsessed with Anna Karenina, the character from Tolstoy's novel. Embodying the myth of Narcissus, Anna K. is the image and resemblance of Joana, stronger and more seductive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  José Roberto Aguilar
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Vadim Nikitin

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DIRECTION:  Luiz Alberto Pereira
CAST:  Adriana Alves  •  Leonardo Brício  •  Carla Regina  •  Paulo Betti

Aparecida - O Milagre (2010)

Marcos Resende is a cold and crisis man command MetalNobre company. Mark lost his faith in God when her father, Antonio, died in the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida. He had asked the day before to Our Lady Aparecida cleats for him to play in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tizuka Yamasaki
CAST:  Maria Fernanda Cândido  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Murilo Rosa  •  Jonatas Faro

Marcos Resende is a cold and crisis man command MetalNobre company. Mark lost his faith in God when her father, Antonio, died in the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida. He had asked the day before to Our Lady Aparecida cleats for him to play in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tizuka Yamasaki
CAST:  Maria Fernanda Cândido  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Murilo Rosa  •  Jonatas Faro

The Tenants (2009)

Valter's life turns upside-down when a gang of smalltime criminals move in next door. Valter's wife Iara wants something to be done about their new neighbors whos nigthtly activities does not allow them to sleep. Valter just wants to be left alone.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sérgio Bianchi
CAST:  Caio Blat  •  Cássia Kis  •  Fernando Alves Pinto  •  Leona Cavalli

Valter's life turns upside-down when a gang of smalltime criminals move in next door. Valter's wife Iara wants something to be done about their new neighbors whos nigthtly activities does not allow them to sleep. Valter just wants to be left alone.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sérgio Bianchi
CAST:  Caio Blat  •  Cássia Kis  •  Fernando Alves Pinto  •  Leona Cavalli

Através da Janela (2000)

Selma, a retired nurse, is an extremely loving mother for his son Raimundo, in an almost incestuous relationship. One day, she becomes aware of some changes in her son's behavior. At first, she thinks it may be some girlfriend. But soon she learns it's something else.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tata Amaral
CAST:  Laura Cardoso  •  Fransérgio Araújo  •  Ana Lúcia Torre  •  Leona Cavalli

Selma, a retired nurse, is an extremely loving mother for his son Raimundo, in an almost incestuous relationship. One day, she becomes aware of some changes in her son's behavior. At first, she thinks it may be some girlfriend. But soon she learns it's something else.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tata Amaral
CAST:  Laura Cardoso  •  Fransérgio Araújo  •  Ana Lúcia Torre  •  Leona Cavalli

Circular Capital (2004)

In the streets of Rio de Janeiro, survival is the name of the game where the protagonist is an imported 'hot' car. People, from all social levels, will do anything in order to possess it, if only for a few minutes.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Mehedff
CAST:  Ricardo Blat  •  Fellipe Marques  •  Bruce Gomlevsky  •  Thelmo Fernandes

In the streets of Rio de Janeiro, survival is the name of the game where the protagonist is an imported 'hot' car. People, from all social levels, will do anything in order to possess it, if only for a few minutes.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Mehedff
CAST:  Ricardo Blat  •  Fellipe Marques  •  Bruce Gomlevsky  •  Thelmo Fernandes

Desequilíbrio (2004)

He is a tightrope walker. She is a whore. Asymmetrical dreams take place in the geometry of São Paulo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francisco Garcia
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Rodrigo Matheus

He is a tightrope walker. She is a whore. Asymmetrical dreams take place in the geometry of São Paulo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francisco Garcia
CAST:  Leona Cavalli  •  Rodrigo Matheus

What Is It Worth? (2005)

Free adaptation of Machado de Assis's short story "Pai Contra Mãe", having some of Nireu Cavalcanti's 18th Century chronicles as inspiration, the film traces parallels between life in during the slavery period and in modern Brazil.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sérgio Bianchi
CAST:  Danton Mello  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Lázaro Ramos  •  Caio Blat

Free adaptation of Machado de Assis's short story "Pai Contra Mãe", having some of Nireu Cavalcanti's 18th Century chronicles as inspiration, the film traces parallels between life in during the slavery period and in modern Brazil.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sérgio Bianchi
CAST:  Danton Mello  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Lázaro Ramos  •  Caio Blat

Antônia (2007)

Determined to escape their poverty-stricken lives, four talented young women living on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, form an all-female rap group but find their road to success is riddled with sexism, racism, and violence. One by one, they succumb to their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tata Amaral
CAST:  Negra Li  •  Cindy Mendes  •  Leilah Moreno  •  Quelynah

Determined to escape their poverty-stricken lives, four talented young women living on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, form an all-female rap group but find their road to success is riddled with sexism, racism, and violence. One by one, they succumb to their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tata Amaral
CAST:  Negra Li  •  Cindy Mendes  •  Leilah Moreno  •  Quelynah

Agua dos porcos (2020)

Gualtieri is an apathetic ex-cop, fighting himself, almost nothing excites him. That is why he accepts an easy job in the jungle of the triple border. Investigating how and why a person was killed becomes the key to revealing other truths that should be buried ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roly Santos
CAST:  Roberto Birindelli  •  Mayana Neiva  •  Allana Lopes  •  Daniel Valenzuela

Gualtieri is an apathetic ex-cop, fighting himself, almost nothing excites him. That is why he accepts an easy job in the jungle of the triple border. Investigating how and why a person was killed becomes the key to revealing other truths that should be buried ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roly Santos
CAST:  Roberto Birindelli  •  Mayana Neiva  •  Allana Lopes  •  Daniel Valenzuela

Desire Machine: 60 Years of Teatro Oficina (2021)

In six decades, Teatro Oficina has done more than revolutionize theatrical language in the country: the aesthetic influence of José Celso Martinez Corrêa's company extends from Tropicalism to the renewal of Brazilian audiovisual languages ​​from the 1960s onwards. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joaquim Castro  •  Lucas Weglinski
CAST:  José Celso Martinez Corrêa  •  Paulo Maluf  •  Fernanda Montenegro  •  Etty Fraser

In six decades, Teatro Oficina has done more than revolutionize theatrical language in the country: the aesthetic influence of José Celso Martinez Corrêa's company extends from Tropicalism to the renewal of Brazilian audiovisual languages ​​from the 1960s onwards. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joaquim Castro  •  Lucas Weglinski
CAST:  José Celso Martinez Corrêa  •  Paulo Maluf  •  Fernanda Montenegro  •  Etty Fraser

Luz, Câmera, 50 Anos: Dalva e Herivelto, Uma Canção de Amor - O Filme (2015)

The singer Dalva de Oliveira and the composer Herivelto Martins lived intensely on the stage and in life. The 13 years of marriage and the disagreements, which gained emphasis with the separation, contributed to an important artistic and cultural production.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dennis Carvalho
CAST:  Adriana Esteves  •  Fábio Assunção  •  Maria Fernanda Cândido  •  Denise Weinberg

The singer Dalva de Oliveira and the composer Herivelto Martins lived intensely on the stage and in life. The 13 years of marriage and the disagreements, which gained emphasis with the separation, contributed to an important artistic and cultural production.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dennis Carvalho
CAST:  Adriana Esteves  •  Fábio Assunção  •  Maria Fernanda Cândido  •  Denise Weinberg

Águas Selvagens (2022)

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DIRECTION:  Roly Santos
CAST:  Roberto Birindelli  •  Allana Lopes  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Mayana Neiva

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DIRECTION:  Roly Santos
CAST:  Roberto Birindelli  •  Allana Lopes  •  Leona Cavalli  •  Mayana Neiva