Review

Onda Nova (1983) captures the explosive yearning for social change that swept through early 1980s Brazil. Women's soccer had been banned under the dictatorship until 1979, and only by 1983–when the film was created—could women officially form their own teams. The film thus functions both as a narrative about a women's soccer team and as a symbolic expression of Brazilian society's desire for freedom from oppressive systems, rigid discipline, and restrictive social norms. Even from today's perspective, four decades later, the film presents remarkably progressive explorations of identity, race, and gender through the personal stories of the team members. It offers a dramatic portrayal of a social environment still reluctant to guarantee personal freedoms, illustrating—with colors as vibrant as Brazil's own diversity—how deeply personal struggles constitute the most profound political statements. The brief yet provocative appearance by Caetano Veloso, the jazz virtuoso who boldly opposed the Brazilian dictatorship, adds another layer of symbolic resonance to the film. (Sung MOON)

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