The Desire

Widowed one year ago, Eleonora, a 33-year-old woman from Sao Paulo's upper bourgeoisie, lives alone, unsuited to her husband's absence, an intellectual frustrated and torn between the need for transcendence and a strong sexual compulsion. The life of the couple, although not happy, was intense. However, the presence of her a long-time friend Ana Maria, just arrived from Paris, a middle-class university student, is staying at his house. The two go to the site of Eleonora and she remembers her life with Marcelo and his death by drowning.

Directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, The Desire leans on a strong ensemble — Fernando Amaral, Selma Egrei, Lilian Lemmertz — 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 1975.