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Children of the Church Steps is a new miniseries on Netflix that premiered on October 30, 2024. The series is based on real events and focuses on four street children in Rio de Janeiro.
The show portrays their lives during the 36 hours leading up to the tragic Candelária Massacre. Directed by Luis Lomenha, the series offers a gripping and emotional narrative. Audiences can stream it exclusively on Netflix.
The series tells the story of Douglas, Sete, Jesus and Pipoca, four children who survive on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. They face difficulties clinging to hope for a better life as they negotiate their daily battles. Combining dreamlike images with gritty, urban realism, the miniseries offers a singular window into the difficult life of street children in Brazil.
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Children of the Church Steps is a heartbreaking depiction of innocence in childhood amidst a backdrop of social injustice and violence. Inspired by actual events, it highlights the Candelária Massacre while maintaining the attention on the aspirations and wishes of the young heroes.
The official synopsis of the minseries says:
“A group of young friends survive life on the streets, finding in each other hope and resilience to dream of different futures — until tragedy unfolds.”
Everything about Children of the Church Steps
Children of the Church Steps is based on one of Latin America’s most heartbreaking tragedies, the Candelária Massacre.
Outside the Candelária Church, police shot and killed eight homeless people — six minors among them — in Rio de Janeiro in 1993. From the point of four children, the show shows the 36 hours before the massacre, from their dreams, hardships and hopes.
The story follows four children — Douglas, Sete, Jesus and Pipoca — living on the sidewalks of downtown Rio. Despite their grim circumstances, the series humanizes their struggles by showing how they clung on to dreams of a better future.
Their lives on the streets unfold amidst threats from both the environment and authority figures, while their aspirations for something more remain. The series offers a snapshot of their lives, which abruptly collide with violence.
The Candelária massacre
The Candelária Massacre occurred on July 23, 1993, when street children were targeted by police officers in Rio de Janeiro. After the children threw stones at police cars, a group of officers retaliated by opening fire on nearly 70 homeless individuals sleeping outside the Candelária Church.
Eight of them died, including six children. The massacre shocked the world, with only two of the officers being convicted. The series doesn't focus on the massacre itself but on the lives of the children leading up to it.
By focusing on their personal stories, the creators aimed to highlight the humanity and hope that existed in these young lives despite the looming tragedy. The show strives to avoid sensationalizing the violence, instead showing the power of childhood dreams and resilience.
Dreams and desires of the characters
Douglas, Sete, Jesus and Pipoca are the four main characters in Children of the Church Steps. Their lives reflect the real challenges of street children, yet the series focuses on their aspirations.
For instance, Douglas dreams of a better life, while Sete holds on to the hope of becoming something more than his circumstances allow. Pipoca, the youngest, embodies innocence, while Jesus symbolizes the spiritual strength to survive.
The series sheds light on how the children, despite their dire situation, kept dreaming of a better future. Through their personal stories, viewers are shown the world from their perspective — making the tragedy that follows even more poignant. These stories show that even in the harshest of environments, hope can still survive.
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Production and direction
Children of the Church Steps is directed by Luis Lomenha, who worked closely with survivors of the massacre to ensure that the series remained sensitive to the victims' stories.
The creators, Luis Lomenha and Márcia Faria, focused on telling the story through the children's eyes to avoid sensationalism. They aimed to highlight the innocence and dreams of the young protagonists rather than solely focusing on the violence that followed.
Lomenha said:
“It’s not a series about need. And it’s not about the massacre. It’s about the power of childhood.”
This approach set the series apart from typical crime dramas, making it a deeply personal and emotional portrayal of survival and dreams.
Cast
The cast of Children of the Church Steps includes Patrick Congo, Samuel Silva, Wendy Queiroz and Andrei Marques, who play the four main characters. Their portrayals add a sense of reality and raw emotion to the children’s experiences, drawing viewers into their world.
Children of the Church Steps is a powerful Netflix miniseries that tells the story of four street children in the lead-up to the Candelária Massacre.
While based on real events, the series focuses on the humanity and dreams of the children involved. Through the personal stories of Douglas, Sete, Jesus and Pipoca, the series provides a window to their hopes and struggles before the tragic event.
The show offers a poignant reminder of the impact of violence on young lives, while highlighting the resilience and strength of children. Directed by Luis Lomenha, the series is a thoughtful and emotional portrayal of survival, hope and tragedy.
