Lula, Son of Brazil

Based on the book by Denise Paraná, Lula, Son of Brazil is a richly produced, deeply moving story of the early years of Brazil’s most beloved president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Not to be construed as a film about a politician, or a president, this is more to the point an incredible story of perseverance, family, love, honor, resilience, heroism… a story so fantastic, that it could work as fiction.

Born into extreme poverty in 1945, Lula was guided by a strong mother (Gloria Pires in an award-winning performance as Dona Lindu) who faced overwhelming obstacles to raise her children with the drive and courage to live life without fear. Lindu, who was abandoned by her husband just before Lula’s birth, never wavered from her strict commitment to seeing that her kids live a better life. She raised eight children on her own, and with an unbridled tenacity, she saw to it that each child lived life to the fullest.

Lula spent the better part of his childhood growing up just outside of Santos, Brazil. When he wasn’t in school, he helped support the family. He hustled — shining shoes, selling fruit, working as a delivery boy… Life got better and, as fate would have it, he was soon accepted to study at SENAI, a technical school from which he graduated in 1963. As a full-fledged member of the union, Lula found his path to a life in politics. However it wasn’t until he experienced an intense personal transformation following the startling death of his first wife and unborn son, that Lula found the courage and ambition he needed to take full control of his destiny. This “common man” who overcame incredible adversity would soon rise to become one of the world’s most extraordinary men.

By 2010, Time Magazine had declared Lula one of the “Most Influential People in the World” and Forbes ranked him as “One of the World’s Most Powerful People.” He was named the “Man of the Year” by Le Monde and El Pais, and Esquire hailed him as “One of the Most Influential People of the 21st Century.”

Lula, Son of Brazil is directed by Fábio Barreto and produced by his sister Paula Barreto for L.C. Barreto, the legendary film production company started by their parents in 1961. The film was chosen as Brazil’s entry to the 2011 Academy Awards.