Ícaro Martins & José Antonio Garcia's ONDA NOVA (1983) - U.S. premiere of new 4K restoration!
Co-presented with Discordia, this radical Brazilian cult film follows the members of a woman's soccer team who are discovering themselves and exploring their sexuality under the shadow of a conservative society.
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Aug 17, 2025, 7:30 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, 2220 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA
Onda Nova (New Wave)
directed by Ícaro Martins & José Antonio Garcia
1983, Brazil, 103m, DCP
U.S. premiere of a new 4K restoration, presented with Discordia
doors: 7:00
film: 7:30
A defiantly queer, anarchic, one-of-a-kind sex comedy, the Brazilian cult film ONDA NOVA follows a ragtag team of female footballers as they navigate their dreams and desires, set against the backdrop of the country’s conservative military dictatorship. Made when women’s soccer had just been unbanned, the film’s characters sport eclectic ‘80s ensembles as they train, argue with their parents, make love, and party hard, often getting into sticky situations (but sliding out of them just as breezily). Yet beneath their fearless personas, they begin to feel isolated, knowing their youthful utopia is starting to run dry. Never before screened in the U.S., ONDA NOVA was banned upon its premiere and only released a year later after a legal battle, which compromised its chance at international success. Now newly restored, it can be appreciated as a uniquely transgressive gem, and a must-see for fans of ‘80s sexploitation and queer independent cinema.
In Portuguese with English subtitles. A SPAMFLIX release. Special thanks to Julia Duarte and Becca Rieckmann.
Official Selection: 2024 Locarno Film Festival, Queer Lisboa, São Paulo International Film Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival
Restored for Olympus Filmes by Aclara Produções and the family of José Antonio Garcia, with the collaboration of Cinemateca Brasileira, Zumby Post, and JLS Sound Facilities.
“Remains transgressive, lively and full of unbridled desire.” -Daniel Allen, Loud & Clear
“Women’s soccer [is] a starting point for a movie that plays around [with] all forms of liberation, including its own anything-goes approach. Everyone involved seems to be having a great time, and the filmmakers never pass at any idea, be it comic or dramatic.” -Filipe Furtado