Odo Ya! Vida com Aids (1997)

This is the affirming story of how Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion, has become a source of strength and power for a group of AIDS sufferers. Shot in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Bahia, it shows the rituals of Candomblé and the celebration of Carnival. It features the personal struggles and words of wisdom from those whose faith have brought endurance and pride. Rather than denying the sexuality of the population, Odô-Yá!, an innovative education program, advocates the use of condoms so that sexuality need not be repressed. This lyrical documentary puts the epidemic in a cultural context, showing how a religion helps its followers cope with the illness, contrasting it with myopic government campaigns.