They’re a beautiful family, the Paivas: father Rubens, mother Eunice, and their five children. They live in a nice house, they have nice friends, they obviously love each other. They enjoy days at the beach. Looking at their lives, you would almost not notice that they live in a military dictatorship – almost. They comfort each other when, after the kidnapping of the Swiss ambassador to Brazil, the country becomes more threatening – though the oldest daughter, Vera, is sent to London along with friends of the family. Just because you’re safe doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions.

And then Rubens is arrested. And that is the last they’ll ever see of him.

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