The Option

The Option centers on a group of rural women who cut sugar cane and live in ramshackle highway neighborhoods. For many, their only escape to a potentially better life is through prostitution, often with truck drivers.

Directed by Ozualdo Ribeiro Candeias, The Option leans on a strong ensemble — Carmem Angélica, Nere di Passi, Carmem Ortega — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1981.