Rosane Svartman to Helm Menopause Comedy ‘Garota’ for Elo Studios

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Rosane Svartman, the renowned American writer-director naturalized in Brazil behind hits on TV (“On the Fence,” “Dona de Mim”) and film (“Desenrola”), is partnering once again with Elo Studios for “Garota” (“Girl” in literal translation). The new collaboration comes on the heels of “(Des)controle,” which just had its world premiere at the Rio Film Festival. It solidifies Elo Studios’s interest in stories penned by Brazilian female directors like Susanna Lira, whose “Salve Rosa,” a co-production with Paramount Pictures, has also premiered at this year’s event. Shooting is scheduled for 2026.

Elo Studios will produce and distribute “Garota,” which follows the story of a 52-year-old woman who sees her life turned upside down when she loses her job, enters menopause, and begins caring for an older dog abandoned by her mother. Once she begins posting about the dog online, the woman enters a tricky digital world while also having to navigate the even trickier waters of ageing. 

Speaking with Variety out of the Rio Film Festival, Svartman says she was “immediately” drawn by the project when Sabrina Wagon, Elo Studios’s CEO, presented it to her. “This is a woman who is dealing with the challenges and surprises of menopause through an elderly dog no one wanted. I joined the project believing in the importance of bringing to light this woman who feels invisible. I thought: I want to watch this film.” 

Wagon points out “Garota” was born out of a prize created by Elo Studios in partnership with Telecine at the Cabíria Screenplay Festival to award the best plot-line by an up-and-coming screenwriter. Adriana Calabró won the inaugural edition with what the exec calls a “potent” idea. The production company then brought in seasoned screenwriter Flávia Guimarães to work alongside Calabró, eventually booking Svartman to direct following their collaboration on “(Des)controle.” 

Asked about Brazilian cinema’s recent interest in stories about women over 50, including Gabriel Mascaro’s “The Blue Trail” and Glória Pires’s “Sexa,” Svartman says there is a simple answer to this trend: “cinema is a mirror to society.” 

“The same sense of invisibility older women face in daily life has been replicated for a long time in the audiovisual sector,” she adds. “But these women are alive, having fun, having sex, anxiety crises and reinventing themselves at 50. Those stories are fodder for great films.”

On the more analytical side, Wagon points out how there is a “structural change in consumption and investment.” ‘The longevity economy now corresponds to a huge slice of the world’s gross domestic product, with projections stating that over 50s have contributed over US$45 trillion to the GDP in 2020 and can pass US$100 trillion by 2050. This audience has great purchasing power and is still underrepresented onscreen. ‘Garota’ aims to fill this gap with great humor.” 

The exec also adds that only 1.4% of characters in advertising in Brazil in 2024 were over 60+ and, in 2023, only 30% of protagonists were women. “Discussions of menopause have also increased in the public realm. The hashtag #menopause has billions of views on TikTok, and numbers point to an expanding market (from US$18 billion in 2024 to US$27 in 2030).” 

Speaking about what motivates her to continuously support the making of stories like “Garota,” Wagon says it stems from a desire to invest in “lasting partnerships.” “There is a moment where we start choosing not only what stories to tell but who to tell them with. To age within the film industry is to learn how to be selective, prioritize projects that have an impact and real connections with the audience.”

As for Svartman, she says working with Wagon and Elo Studios makes her feel confident that a project will be made “with the dedication and support to gather all needed creative resources so we can make the best possible film. And that’s not easy to find.”