Luz Acesa (2020)

The documentary, Lights On, follows the lives of five individuals currently in recovery from substance abuse. Through them, the film portrays the diversity and contradictions of their personal experiences, their common struggle and how they managed to transform their lives. The film plays out over the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro's carnival, a party where drugs and alcoholic beverages are excessively present. The documentary attempts to understand how these individuals relate to the city during this bacchanalian festival, and what consequences and impacts this kind of celebration leaves on each one. In showing a bit of each individual's daily routine, the documentary addresses prejudice, love, empathy, and human relationships. Compulsion and spirituality are central themes in any discussion about alcoholism. By addressing these individuals' relationship with these motifs, the documentary dives into the singular universe of their existence. In this approach, other profoundly personal, but at the same time extremely universal issues are addressed. Lights On is about drugs seen from the perspective of recovery, a film about people's capacity to overcome their problematic use.