EXCLUSIVE: The trailer for Elize: Shadows of a Woman has dropped, the Netflix Brazil original film based on the ripped-from-the-headlines case of Elize Matsunaga.
Matsunaga murdered and dismembered her husband in the couple’s São Paulo apartment in 2012. The case generated huge media attention and shocked Brazil.
We’re first with the trailer for Elize: Shadows of a Woman and can also reveal that the film, which was announced last year, will premiere on Netflix on July 22.
The film stars Lorena Comparato as Elize Matsunaga. The cast also includes Henrique Kimura, Miwa Yanagizawa, Julia Shimura and Denise Weinberg.
The Netflix documentary series Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime chronicled the case and is still on the streaming platform. The doc was made by Boutique Filmes, which also produces the feature.
Inspired by the real-life case, the Elize: Shadows of a Woman screenplay was penned by author and screenwriter Raphael Montes (Good Morning, Verônica) in collaboration with Mariana Torres (Good Morning, Verônica).
“This is not just a movie about a crime. The aim was to tell a story that would also make people think. We wanted to open up a conversation about violence — what led Elize to commit such a brutal act?” said Montes, who is also an associate producer on the film.
“We wanted to show this woman’s duality. It’s a story people can relate to in many ways, but unfortunately with the worst possible outcome,” added Torres.
Felipe Vellas, whose credits include Netflix’s Brazilian crime drama hit Criminal Code, directs Elize: Shadows of a Woman. It was produced by Gustavo Mello, with Renata Artigas, Marcelo Máximo and Adriana Gaspar were executive producers.