Xica da Silva

“Xica da Silva” is a rose-colored story about a Black Brazillian woman who ‘rose’ from slavery to become one of 18th century Brazil’s wealthiest women. Based on the real Xica da Silva’s truth-is-stranger-than-fiction tale, the film chronicles the life of a woman who, against all odds, captured the attention of a wealthy diamond miner who fell for her charms. Xica has come to symbolize what’s possible for Black women in Brazil. Come for the film’s romanticized view of the legend; stay for pondering how sexual agency is lost when enslaved and how the movie does and doesn’t make commentary on that fact with its comedic plot. The film is also known as simply “Xica”.