Reaching for the Moon

In 1951, renowned New York poet Elizabeth Bishop makes her way to Rio de Janeiro to visit her college friend Mary. Elizabeth, reserved by nature, finds herself swept away by the vibrant sensuality of Brazil, contrasting starkly with Mary’s charismatic partner, architect Lota de Macedo Soares. Initially finding themselves at odds, Elizabeth and Lota eventually ignite a passionate affair despite Mary’s jealousy. Resolute and unconventional, Lota intends to maintain relationships with both women at any cost. However, the dynamics shift as Lota embarks on designing the ambitious Parque do Flamengo in Rio, while Elizabeth takes up a teaching position in the USA, causing the trio’s relationship to fray. Despite her usual confidence, Lota finds herself devastated by the separation, all unfolding during the tense atmosphere of the 1964 military coup. Central to the film are Bishop’s evocative poems, encapsulating a transformative period in the life of this esteemed Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.

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