Virgínia

"Ciranda De Pedra", a Brazilian soap opera with Lucelia Santos in the main role, is one of the childhood memories of mine. It is a part of my distant past for which I have a soft spot in my sentimental emotions. Most probably, there isn't anything special about it but I felt encouraged to write this comment because once this soap opera meant really much to me. After the great success of "Escrava Isaura" ("Slave Isaura"), another Brazilian production released a few years earlier, this one also occurred to be successful in some countries. In the late 1980s (as in 1988-1989 "Ciranda De Pedra" was broadcast), Polish television did not show many American movies so Brazilian soap operas were loved by people of different age - they identified Brazil with the west and partly with America, in general. Moreover, the content of these was quite simple for everyone, easily understood by the majority of audiences. Kids used to sit at the TV sets with their parents and grandparents, sometimes even neighbors who did not own TVs, on Sunday afternoons and watched the strange fate of Virginia (Lucelia Santos) who was bound to live with her ultra rich and ultra authoritative parent, Prado (Adriano Reys) in his marvelous mansion. Appears to be educative? Perhaps not that much, but deadly dramatic for sure!

I have not seen this soap opera again since then (therefore, I will use past form in the description). Although there was not much action, as it still isn't in the majority of soap operas, "Ciranda De Pedra" had a profound insight into characters, which motivated people to watch it. I remember that we all deeply identified with the main character, Virginia. Her suffering, her true love to Eduardo (Marcelo Picchi) was so clearly presented, so tragically expressed that many tears were falling on many cheeks. This insight was intensified by the pieces of classical music, particularly Franz Schubert's, which played in the background. Virginia was contrasted to Herta (Norma Blum) - Prado's mistress, a lady of cool elegance. Herta was a German and, since the action took place in the 1940s, she was a devoted Nazi. So you can imagine what suffering and humiliation Virginia had to face in the mansion of her father where Herta appeared to be so eminent and her sisters so cruel...

Although a long time has passed since my first and last viewing, I still have some scenes in my clear memory. Whenever I think of love affair in this soap opera, I realize that it was not so much based on sensual side of it but rather emotional which focused on a desire for mutual satisfaction. Virginia-Eduardo relation is very delicate and educative. Strange as it may seem, I don't remember when parents had to shout "Close your eyes" or "Leave the room" due to immorality on screen. The moment of their first meeting was an interesting one. Moreover, there were clear moments of the evil of Nazi ideology. Herta represented a person who thought highly of herself, a woman of elegance but of vanity. Prado seemed to be nice at first but later you realize how selfish and materialistic he was. Good development of characters as far as I can go back in my memories.

I'd like to see this soap opera again. Although I don't like soap operas in general and never watch the new ones, "Ciranda De Pedra" is an exception. Perhaps, it is so because of my memories; perhaps, it constitutes something very personal for me; perhaps, I am selfish in what I say wanting others to read what I personally remember only. Yet, I believe that this soap opera would still have something to offer although its colors have faded long ago.

Brazilian soap operas in general are about the best made in the world, and "Ciranda de Pedra" is no exception. This one tells the story of 1940s Brazil's high society with all its excesses and prejudices. Virginia, superbly played by Lucelia Santos, goes to live with her father, the rich judge Prado, and her two other sisters after living most of her life with her mother, who's on the brink of total madness. It is when this simple girl arrives at her father's mansion that she is confronted with the worst kind of prejudices and hatred possible by her own father, her sisters, and especially, her father's Nazi-sympathizing Maid of Honor Frau Herta. Virginia must constantly fight this high society that treats her as an outsider, in the process she finds love, and discovers the secret of her family and herself. This one touched on everything: child abuse, psychological abuse, mental illness, Nazism, you name it. At the end, though, it proved that love conquers all. 9 out of 10. Check it out if you have the chance.