The life story of Heleno de Freitas is the highlight of cinemas.

Manuela Meneses _247 - The story of one of the greatest legends of Brazilian football is the highlight of this Friday's premieres, the 30th. The film "Heleno," starring Rodrigo Santoro, tells the story of Heleno de Freitas, an idol of Botafogo during the 1940s.

Directed by José Henrique Fonseca, the production has already toured the international circuit and won the award for best film at the 2011 Havana Film Festival. Among the new Hollywood releases, the big bet is the sequel to the action classic "Clash of the Titans". The second part of the film, whose script was entirely shot using handheld cameras, stars veteran actor Liam Neeson. To revolutionize the story, the film will also be released in three different 3D versions.

The film's main appeal lies in softening the violence during fight scenes and attracting a younger audience. To further fuel the battle for national box office leadership, the film industry is also releasing the movie "The 8 o'clock Soap Opera." This comedy promises to attract audiences who love telenovelas and pay homage to iconic characters from the soap opera "Dancin' Days." Meanwhile, the Spanish film "The Dancer and the Thief" promises to enchant fans of European cinema, telling the story of Chile after the departure of Augusto Pinochet.

"Helen"

Filmed entirely in black and white, the movie showcases a new phase in the career of actor Rodrigo Santoro. To portray the first bohemian football player in Brazil, Santoro went hungry, sought financial assistance from businessman Eike Batista, and debuted as a co-producer during the filming. For five years, the protagonist studied the mannerisms of Heleno, known as a top-class striker. In addition to dedicating himself to a training routine with former player Cláudio Adão, the actor also had to lose 12 kilos to portray the final phase of the star's life.

Despite being one of the main idols of Botafogo's fans, the script sets aside football and highlights Heleno's series of intrigues and achievements off the field. Director José Henrique Fonseca's avant-garde approach boils down to showing the emotional dramas experienced by an icon betrayed by his own excesses. Born into a wealthy family, Heleno graduated in law, but decided to trade the courts for his great passion: football.

The black and white format highlights the film's great photographic work, done by the award-winning Walter Carvalho. Besides Santoro, who stars in moving scenes in the final segment, another standout in the cast is actress Alinne Moraes, who plays Silvia, Heleno's only official wife. After winning the Best Actor award at the Havana Film Festival, Santoro's performance became highly anticipated by Brazilian cinephiles. The final screenplay was inspired by the book "There Was Never a Man Like Heleno," by journalist Marcos Eduardo Neves. Bold, talented, and sometimes foul-mouthed, Heleno paved the way for a long list of players considered undisciplined both on and off the field.

Cast: Rodrigo Santoro, Alinne Moraes, Angie Cepeda. Director: José Henrique Fonseca. Genre: Drama. Running time: 116 min. Rating: 14+.

"Wrath of the Titans - 2"

The second installment in the franchise arrives in theaters in 2D, 3D, and 3D IMAX versions. Unlike the first version, released in 2010, this film makes extensive use of the technology, showcasing impressive effects of water, fire, flying rocks, and people being hurled towards the audience. Directed by South African Jonathan Liebesman, the plot continues the story of Greek myths ten years later.

Australian actor Sam Worthington continues as the protagonist, playing the demigod Perseus who, after defeating the Kraken, lives the life of a fisherman with his son Helius. The acclaimed Liam Neeson shines in dramatic scenes as Zeus.

The script depicts a bloody struggle for supremacy among the gods, weakened by the lack of faith from humans. Faced with so much violence, Perseus can no longer ignore his role in this fight when Hades and Ares make a deal with Cronos to capture Zeus.

The climax of the plot is the growth of power attributed to the Titans as Zeus loses his soldiers. Despite being compared to the award-winning film "Avatar," the sequel disappointed the American film industry with a weak performance during its opening week. The film was overshadowed by the success of the "Hunger Games" franchise, which grossed R$ 5,2 million during its first week of release.

Cast: Sam Worthington, Bill Nighy, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Rosamund Pike. Director: Jonathan Liebesman. Genre: Action. Running time: 99 min. Rating: 12 years.

"The 8 o'clock soap opera" 

With a story that blends with the daily lives of many Brazilian women, the film pays homage to television drama, especially the soap opera Dancin' Days. The plot, which set trends between 1978 and 1979, portrayed the middle class of Rio de Janeiro at the time.

Directed by Odilon Rocha, the film premieres only in the cinema circuit of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Addressing the period dominated by the military dictatorship, the film stars Vanessa Giácomo and Mateus Solano. Inspired by the colorful costumes of the telenovela, the film succumbs to the rhythms of the discos. The plot tells the story of Amanda, addicted to the television drama, whose fate becomes intertwined with that of Dora, who flees São Paulo for Rio de Janeiro.

Officer Brandão is on the trail of the two girls, and along the way their destinies will intersect with those of other misfits: João Paulo, a diplomat who feels like a foreigner in his homeland; the revolutionary Vicente and his brother Pedro; and the teenager Caio, who was raised by his grandparents and relies on Mônica's help in his struggle to be accepted as gay. Both are young and fascinated by disco music and the soap opera Dancin' Days.

Cast: Claudia Ohana, Vanessa Giácomo, Mateus Solano, Alexandre Nero, André Ramiro. Director: Odilon Rocha. Genre: Drama. Running time: 108 min. Rating: 14+.

"The Dancer and the Thief"

Mixing comedy, drama, action, and romance, the film by Spanish director Fernando Trueba promises to please all types of audiences. The film's standout performance is by Argentine actor Fernando Trueba, who plays an experienced safe-cracker.

Featuring a series of Brazilian songs in the plot, the cast also includes renowned Rio de Janeiro ballerina Marcia Haydée in the role of a dance teacher. Filmed entirely in Chile, the movie addresses the country's process of redemocratization after the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

The script highlights the story of young Angel and veteran Vergara, who are both granted amnesty. However, they follow different paths. While Angel seeks revenge, Vergara tries to recover his family, but everything changes when their paths cross with that of young Victoria.

Cast: Ricardo Darín, Abel Ayala, Miranda Bodenhofer, Ariadna Gil, Julio Jung, Mario. Genre: Drama. Running time: 127 min. Director: Fernando Trueba. Rating: 16+.