THE
LADY OF LIGHTNING AND WIND

Carcará!

There in the backlands
It's a bird that flies like an airplane
A fierce bird
With a curved beak like a hawk.

Carcará!

When it sees a burned field
It flies off, singing.

Carcará!

It goes out hunting.

Carcará!

It even eats burned snakes.

CIDA: When I was twelve years old, my father sold me to a man.

That monster turned my life into hell.

The bastard beat me and raped me every single day.

And I lived like that for years, believing that was the only destiny life had in store for me.

But when the rainy season comes
There are no more burned fields in the backlands.

Even then, the carcará never goes hungry
The newborn lambs down in the valley…

Carcará!

CIDA: One day, I was standing outside my house, getting beaten with a stick, as usual.

When suddenly, a whole gang of cangaceiros — outlaws from the backlands — came riding onto the property.

That man was terrified!

But I just stood there, staring.

And then I realized something extraordinary.

They were cangaceiros, all right.

But they weren't men.

They were women!

Women outlaws, riding straight toward us.

Carcará is fierce, a fearless fighter
The eagle of my backlands.

The newborn lambs can barely walk
It grabs them with its beak and kills them.

Carcará!

CIDA: When they got close, the woman who seemed to be the leader jumped off her horse.

Quick as lightning, she grabbed that man by the hair and said:

CANGACEIRA: You miserable bastard!

Now I'm going to teach you never to mistreat another woman again!

I'm going to put an end to your wicked life right here!

But before you die, I don't want you leaving this world without knowing something.

So first, let me satisfy your curiosity.

Do you know how I became a cangaceira?

A divine mission!

One day, I was leaving the memorial Mass for my mother, who had died at the hands of a monster just like you.

And there, at the top of the hill, I saw the most beautiful vision in the world.

It was the little saint my mother worshipped.

Saint Barbara herself!

She appeared before me and entrusted me with a mission.

To bring justice to the women of these backlands!

Do you understand, you worthless bastard?

I am a messenger of the saint!

So you'd better start praying!

Because the time has come for you to meet the devil himself!

Carcará is fierce, a fearless fighter
The eagle of my backlands.

The newborn lambs can barely walk
It grabs them with its beak and kills them.

Carcará!

It catches, kills, and eats.

Carcará!

It will never starve.

Carcará!

Braver than any man.

Carcará!

It catches, kills, and eats.

CIDA: And that's what happened, Mrs. Helena.

I seized that sudden moment of courage and rode with those women to the next town.

There was nothing left for me in that place.

And when I arrived, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do.

At first, it wasn't easy.

I didn't know how to do anything.

But little by little, I found my way.

I got one job here, another one there.

And eventually, I even started having dreams of my own.

I dreamed of coming to Rio de Janeiro.

Of having a proper job, with a signed work contract.

I discovered a strength inside myself, just like the carcará!

Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you, Mrs. Helena?

If I, who had nothing — no education, no money — managed to change my life, then you can change yours too!

You deserve a better life.

HELENA: Cida's words didn't make much sense to me.

After all, Paulo had never done anything like that before.

He apologized.

He'd simply lost control.

We had suffered so much after losing the baby.

He had suffered so much.

That's why he lost his temper.

But he loves me.

He's the love of my life.

After that day, Paulo actually improved for a while.

But it wasn't long before he started coming home late again.

Only now, I didn't care anymore.

One evening, we were coming home from a birthday party for one of his friends.

He'd had a little too much to drink.

And the moment we walked through the door, he started:

PAULO: How dare you behave like that in front of my friends?

Throwing yourself at everyone!

You're a slut!

That's why you don't want to have sex with me anymore, isn't it?

You probably have a lover somewhere!

That's the only explanation!

You're cheating on me!

You're cheating on me!

HELENA: Cheating on him?

How could I possibly be cheating on him?

Unless I was sleeping with the doorman!

He was practically the only man I ever saw, and even that was only once in a while!

That man was driving me insane!

I couldn't take it anymore.

And then I exploded.

Stop it!

I've never cheated on you!

Never!

But you…

Do you think I don't notice?

The smell of women's perfume on your clothes!

You coming home late almost every night!

If anyone's cheating in this marriage, it's YOU!

You're the bastard here!

Paulo stood completely still.

He had never seen me stand up to him like that.

And I have to admit, it felt wonderful to finally say what I was feeling.

But it didn't take him long to recover.

He came charging toward me, his face twisted with rage.

I thought:

He's going to kill me!

But before he could reach me, Cida appeared.

CIDA: You stay right where you are, mister!

I may not have seen Saint Barbara herself, but her mission has been passed on to me!

You're not going to lay a single finger on Mrs. Helena!

And you, Mrs. Helena…

You're free now.

Go!

HELENA: I won't change
There's no solution to this story
I'm a wounded beast
In body, soul, and heart.

And now I'm here.

Thank goodness.

I did it.

I finally broke free.

That's wonderful.

But now what?

What am I going to do?

I'm lost in this place.

Alone.

Completely on my own.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do.

How am I going to support myself?

Where am I going to live?

I don't know how to do anything.

What if Paulo was right when he said I was nothing without him?

Now that I'm out here, free, I'm suddenly terrified.

Afraid I won't make it.

Afraid something terrible might happen to me.

Afraid I won't be able to handle things on my own.

I don't even know where to begin.

Which path should I take?

Who can help me?

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