My Name Is Baghdad

Caru Alves de Souza's 2021 Brazilian film follows Bagdá, who skates in São Paulo. Her family and the people around her are self-assured women. Out on the street and in the venues it is different. The film shows the male-dominated skate world directly; the narrative makes Bagdá meeting a group of women the turning point and uses no rescuer figure. The cast are largely real skaters. The images were taken on the street in natural light. The tone is lively. Who it's for: viewers of Brazilian independent cinema and youth narratives. Who it's not for: viewers expecting the pace of competition; this is not a sports film.