For those who enjoy a soap opera, Brazil is fertile ground, as the overwhelming majority of general TV channels in the country transmit, on average, four soap operas daily. Invariably, much of this material eventually goes around the world, being bought and broadcast in other countries. One of the most permeable markets for Brazilian teledramaturgy is, of course, my country, due to its cultural and linguistic proximity. I watched "Avenida Brasil" twice, the first when it debuted in Portugal around 2012, and the second was about six months ago when it was reprised.
The plot follows the path of Rita, a girl who saw her father die because of her stepmother, the cruel Carminha, who later used the mourning to win the heart of former footballer Jorge Tufão and become a millionaire. With her childhood ruined by the pain and difficulties of orphan life, Rita was adopted by an Argentine family but returned years later to take revenge on Carminha and make her pay for her crimes. The story has obvious similarities to Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo" and is very good to watch. There are also several humorous moments to lighten the environment. Débora Falabella is the heroine and does a good dramatic performance, in particular with the great villain, played by Adriana Esteves. This talented actress was truly capable of creating a character worthy of our hatred. Murilo Benício was very well in the role of the former footballer, of good nature and meek temperament. Equally notable were the appearances of Marcello Novaes, Eliane Giardini, Alexandre Borges, Marcos Caruso, Cauã Reymond and Nathalia Dill. Considered one of the most successful soap operas in Brazil, it is undoubtedly a must for lovers of this TV genre.
