New film by Cíntia Domit Bittar (Circles) explores the universe of tradwives, traditional wives, which has become popular on social media
After passing through the Marché du Film at the Cannes Festival, Virtuosasnew film by Cíntia Domit Bittar (Circles), arrived in Rio de Janeiro for the 27th edition of the Rio Festival, one of the most important film festivals in Brazil and Latin America.
In the new feature, which features a script by the filmmaker in partnership with Fernanda De Capua (Their Story), three women, led for the admirable and inspiring Virginia Heinzel (Bruna Linzmeyer, Oxygen Masks Will Not Fall Off Automatically), participate in an exclusive retreat with the aim of becoming better women, wives and mothers. However, disturbing events turn the journey into a dangerous and frightening experience.
Going behind the scenes of contemporary conservatism, Virtuosas is quite efficient when exploring the universe of tradwivesthe “traditional wives”, made up of women who, following the precepts of the Bible, seek to be perfect wives and mothers, rejecting feminism because they are supposedly against it.
The movement has become popular on social media in recent years and, in the film, we see good examples of these women, starting with the leaderwho makes a living preaching the concepts of a “virtuous woman”, even if she does not follow them as faithfully as she demands of her disciples.
There are also those who genuinely believe that they can follow the teachings of Virginia to have a perfect and happy life; and, in counterpoint, an exhausted and unhappy woman, overcome by a life that did not bring what she expected, but which she refuses to abandon.
Through Germinate (Maria Galant, Inventory of Lost Images), a woman apparently lost in that environment, the film reveals a facet of society that, however absurd it may seem, exists right under our noses. Each character is a representation of what we see on a daily basis and choose to ignore.
More than the film itself, which is sold as a horror story, Virtuosas It scares because of this proximity to a reality in which people believe and feel compelled to do whatever they want in the name of God, without worrying about the consequences — especially because they are unlikely to exist, if we consider the profile of those who normally preach conservatism.
Virtuosas It is still an important record of a Brazil that, in the future, should be studied in classrooms. It’s also a warning that, sometimes, it’s better not to completely ignore someone else’s madness. After all, it’s no surprise that clowns have conquered and continue to conquer significant spaces in recent times.
READ ALSO: Night Act, Hamnet: Life Before Hamlet, The Secret Agent and more highlights from the Rio 2025 Festival
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Bruna Linzmeyer
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Cíntia Domit Bittar
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Fernanda De Capua
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Virtuosas
Source: Rollingstone

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.