Zezé Motta narrates ‘Torto Arado’ in audiobook and talks about the return of ‘racist Brazil’

Anyone who listens to the audiobook version of the novel “Torto Arado”, by Itamar Vieira Junior, may come across a familiar voice. Actress Zezé Motta, 78, will interpret the story of the sisters Bibiana and Belonísia, which has become one of the biggest phenomena in Brazilian literature in recent years.

The invitation was made by However, the publisher that published the book in 2019. The work won the main literary awards in the country (including the Jabuti) in 2020, becoming one of the best sellers of 2021. actress to F5.

However, anyone who thinks that she was one of the fanatics of the book, which guided many discussions among lovers of literature on social networks, is wrong. “I hadn’t read the book yet, but I knew it was a success and I’d heard about it quite positively too,” she says.

In addition to the positive references, she says that chance also played a role in the decision. “The most curious thing is that weeks ago I was working with the illustrator of the book cover, there were several coincidences”, she recalls. “Then I didn’t think twice, I accepted.”

The fact that she could only use her voice as a device in this work did not scare her. “I think I pass my emotion on whatever work I do, you know?” she comments. “I usually say that I always put the actress in front, whether doing a show or doing a narration… I read the story, absorb it and let it be seen.”

To prepare, she pored over the work before the start of the recordings, which are in full swing in a studio in Rio de Janeiro. “I feel that the work shows a lot of a Brazil that we lived a few years ago and that unfortunately is repeated again, a racist Brazil, an unequal Brazil”, she laments.

Remnants of this Brazil she talks about could be noticed recently by the actress. On Tuesday (4), she released racist messages that she had been receiving on social media after declaring her vote for former President Lula (PT) in the presidential elections.

In one of them, a man who used a photo of President Bolsonaro (PL) on his profile said he needed a day laborer and asked for Zezé’s resume. “There’s a group of bolsonaristas who decided to attack me”, he commented with his followers. “Since last week he’s been this drunk. Who are these people? This individual here decided to make this proposal to me on Instagram. What level… disgust, scrotitude?”, he commented with his followers.

While some squeal, close to turning eight decades old, the actress is more productive than ever. In addition to recording the audiobook, which is already about halfway through, she is involved in several projects. “I’m currently making two films, touring Brazil with the show ‘Zezé Canta Caetano’, finishing a series and other professional commitments”, she celebrates. “My schedule is crazy, but in the end it all works out.”