Neirud died shrouded in mystery, leaving behind no trace of her past. Confronting family secrets, the filmmaker pieces together the life of her enigmatic aunt, who toured Brazil as a wrestler in an underground all-female circus troupe throughout the 60s and 80s. As she investigates Neirud's controversial ring persona, Gorilla Woman, the filmmaker uncovers a taboo-breaking love story, revealing the surprising nature of Neirud's role in her own family.

-- Dir. Fernanda Faya - 72min - 2023 - Brazil --

*Winner*, Best Film and Best Editing, Olhar de Cinema 2023, Curitiba IFF
*Winner*, Best Documentary and Audience Awards at QueerLisboa

"Buried secrets bubble to the surface in Brazilian film-maker Fernanda Faya’s tender and searching documentary...rich with an edgy visual texture that echoes the thorniness of Neirud’s identity, one that eschews simplistic societal binaries" - Guardian

"a fascinating story about race and identity, and queer life in last century’s Brazil" - DOC NYC

"chronicles changing Brazilian society through the bounds of first-person home movie narrative. Neirud works as a playful cinematic investigation with great warmth and heart." - Screen Anarchy

"Mixing archival film and video footage, Neirud alternates poetic lyricism with poignant anecdotes, the net result is a heartfelt ode to the pioneers of the past who have made today possible." - Hammer to Nail

"Neirud is a sensitive and poetic piece about search and erasure." - Escotilha