"The Cure" - a shocking film about conversion therapy aims to change the law in Brazil

After premiering at the Cortina Film Club, the short movie "The Cure" is now available on TikTok and Instagram to raise awareness of the ongoing anti-LGBTQIAPN+ policies and practices.

This emotionally charged film produced by Brazilian publisher Editora Taverna highlights the contemporary cruelties associated with homophobia by exploring Brazilian history. "The Cure" dramatizes the use of discredited and harmful practices like "conversion therapy" against the LGBTQIAPN+ community, which was once wielded by the medical establishment nearly a century ago. Unfortunately, these anti-LGBTQIAPN+ policies still exist in Brazil today. The film's release coincides with the processing of a bill in the Brazilian National Congress seeking to criminalize conversion therapy.

The film is based on the investigative work of journalist Marcos Sergio Silva and author Jean Ícaro's book "Gay Cure: There Is No Cure for What is Not a Disease." The film grapples with the past and the all-too-painful present by dramatizing the trauma associated with conversion therapy. It draws a parallel between past atrocities and the present-day challenges faced by the LGBTQIAPN+ community. While physical torture was the primary method in the past, conversion therapy is mental torture. It is a call to action to raise awareness and promote change globally.

Editora Taverna aims to promote bibliodiversity in the Brazilian publishing market by offering new voices and plural expressions in its catalog. They include works by debut authors, books authored by women, LGBTQIA+ authors, and Black authors, and emphasize the aesthetic care and graphic design of their books in their productions. They seek to promote a depth of feeling for underrepresented groups like LGBTQIA+ and the rich culture that emanates from these communities, while inspiring all people to combat injustice and intolerance.

This campaign and film was launched in timing with the processing of a bill that seeks to criminalize conversion therapy in the Brazilian National Congress.

"The Cure" is not just a film; it is a call to action. It will be available on social media platforms and supports legislative efforts to outlaw conversion therapies. Editora Taverna invites viewers worldwide to join them in advocating for a future where love and identity are celebrated, not condemned.

The film is created in collaboration with Brazilian ad agency Africa Creative. Africa Creative is one of the largest and most awarded advertising agencies in Brazil and Latin America, responsible for successful campaigns for some of the country’s most prestigious brands. Africa was founded in 2002 and is part of Omnicom Group’s DDB Worldwide.