For seven years, coincidentally the years of my academic formation in film, I worked as a prison guard in a brazilian prison. There, I was part of Team ALFA, made up of 28 men and women, which day in and day out carried out their work alongside 900 inmates.

Over these years I realized the prison system is a living bureaucratic organism, but headless. Often, while talking with colleagues, I noticed that we all, in some way, felt like the arm of this living entity. However, I felt like a shackled arm.

This unique experience—being not only an observer of the inner workings of the Brazilian prison system but also a part of it—was pivotal in my decision to make this feature film.

In parallel, I began traveling to film festivals presenting my early short films. In conversations and debates, when revealing my “official” profession, I noticed a significant interest, lack of understanding and prejudice about what happens inside a prison and who the “guards” are. With each conversation, the idea of the film grew stronger and more urgent.