((top)): Amor.estranho.amor.-love.strange.love-.1982.vhs...

Amor Estranho Amor is a strange film indeed. It is a relic of 1982 that speaks directly to 2026. Its themes of political cynicism, the weaponization of female bodies, and the corrupting influence of power are as relevant now as they were during the Estado Novo. It is a film that was nearly impossible to see and is now available with a click, yet its difficult content ensures it will never be comfortable.

Political and social critique: The film’s interrogation of hypocritical institutions—familial, educational, religious—aligns with readings that situate it within broader critiques of authoritarian social orders. Amor.Estranho.Amor.-Love.Strange.Love-.1982.VHS...

: Marcelo Ribeiro, who was 11 during filming, has often spoken about the professional nature of the set, despite the uncomfortable nature of the scenes by modern standards. Amor Estranho Amor is a strange film indeed

To understand the VHS legend, one must understand the casting. In 1982, Xuxa Meneghel was a rising model and actress, but not yet the “Queen of the Little Ones”—the blonde, pink-clad deity who would dominate Brazilian children’s television for decades. By the late 1980s, Xuxa became untouchable, a national treasure earning millions. It is a film that was nearly impossible