Invisible City
By Marina Gordon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fantasy-mystery introduces teens to Brazilian folklore.
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Invisible City
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Engaging story
What's the Story?
The Brazilian series INVISIBLE CITY begins with a signal that this world hosts some curious inhabitants: A man who shoots a forest bird is killed by a creature whose head is on fire. We learn in the next scene that the mythical creature was the Curupira, a protector of the forest. Years later, young Luna (Manuela Dieguez), fascinated with this tale, wanders into the forest when she sees a small fire. Her mother, Gabriela (Julia Konrad), an anthropologist who was trying to save the nearby village, runs into the conflagration to find her and dies. Soon thereafter, Luna's distraught father, Eric (Marco Pigossi), an environmental police officer, happens upon a dead freshwater pink dolphin on a Rio de Janeiro beach, which leads him into a world of mythical entities with magical powers.
Is It Any Good?
Anyone craving a Supernatural-ish diversion has a fresh obsession in this series that encourages a deep dive into Brazilian folkloric figures. Invisible City creator Carlos Saldanha is best known for directing the Rio and Ice Age animated movies, but his live-action debut isn't for young kids. Characters die in violent and disturbing ways, mythical creatures take on various forms, and the atmosphere is creepy and unpredictable.
In the seven episodes, Saldanha depicts a modern Rio de Janeiro inhabited by mythical creatures that will be new to most viewers outside of Brazil: Curupira, a forest protector who kills a man in the first scene; Saci, a prankster; a mermaid-like Lara; and more. Delving into the role of these figures in Brazil is part of the fun of this show and may encourage research outside the scope of the series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of movies and TV series inspired by centuries-old fairy tales. How does this series compare to others? What is it about these stories that continues to hold our attention? Are the original stories recognizable in this show?
What else do you know about Brazilian culture? What are some other shows or stories or authors you're familiar with that represent or celebrate the culture and country of Brazil?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 5, 2021
- Cast: Marco Pigossi , Alessandra Negrini , Fábio Lago
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: July 13, 2023
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