Telenovela (2016-2017)

Channel: Record TV

Production: Casablanca

Written by Gustavo Reiz

Episodes: 143

Role: Director

Escrava Mãe

Synopsis

Juliana, an enslaved woman, was raised alongside Teresa and Maria Isabel, daughters of the wealthy coffee planters Colonel Custódio and Dona Beatrice Avelar. A friend of young mistress Teresa, who has always treated her like a mother, Juliana falls in love with the Portuguese Miguel, a traveller in search of work and of answers to a mystery surrounding the death of his parents. He also awakens the interest of Maria Isabel, who never accepted the different treatment Juliana receives from her parents. With the help of the cunning maid Esméria, Maria Isabel does everything to harm Juliana.

Juliana also faces a powerful obstacle: Commander Almeida. By marrying Teresa in an arrangement that saves her family from financial ruin, Almeida becomes the new master and reignites an old rivalry with Colonel Quintiliano Gomes, owner of the neighbouring farm. Guilherme, Quintiliano's son, secretly corresponds with Teresa, who also loves him, despite the enmity between their parents. Teresa and Almeida's marriage restarts a war between the region's most powerful families and begins a terrible phase in Juliana's life, as her new master becomes completely obsessed with her.

A parallel plot follows Filipa, Quintiliano's daughter, who questions the treatment of enslaved people and the limits placed on women, and her romance with Átila, an abolitionist teacher.

About the production

Escrava Mãe is a telenovela produced by Casablanca for Record TV and written by Gustavo Reiz. It was Record's first telenovela produced by an outside company and the first telenovela shot in 4K (Ultra HD). It ran for more than seven months, usually placing second in the ratings with an average of about 11 points in Greater São Paulo, despite direct competition from Globo's Haja Coração.

Michele Lavalle directed on the series; general director: Ivan Zettel.