Young and pretty Hermila returns to her small town, her baby son in her arms. The big city was fun, but it was too expensive. She'll wait for her husband to come and make a better life for them in the provinces. Hermila finds comfort back home with her grandmother and aunt Maria. She quickly falls into the relaxed local routine of dancing and having fun with friends. When she realises that her young, irresponsible husband Mateus isn't serious about joining her, lonely Hermila renews a relationship with her old boyfriend João. But Hermila knows there's nothing for her here, no reason to stay. Just odd jobs washing cars or selling raffle tickets for bottles of whisky. And she has already learned her lesson about running off for love and depending on a man. Hermila takes inspiration from her friend Georgina, a prostitute and decides to raffle herself off for one time only. She'll get the funds necessary to leave town and the holder of the winning ticket will get "A Night in Paradise". For her surprising scheme, Hermila adopts the name Suely, the name that will give her freedom, take her to the sky, and beyond.

Director: Karim Aïnouz
Producers: Videofilmes and Fado Filmes (Brazil), Celluloid Dreams (France), Shotgun Pictures (Germany)
German WCF Partner: Shotgun Pictures
World Sales: Celluloid Dreams (France)

Funded in the WCF Jury meeting in January 2005
Funding amount: 25.000 €

Rights sold to
Germany

World premiere
Venice International Film Festival 2006, Orizzonti

Awards
Winner of FIPRESCI Award, Best Screenplay Award and Artistic Achievement Award, Thessaloniki Film Festival 2006 Winner of Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress, the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival 2006 Winner of Best actress, Bratislava
International Film Festival 2006

Festivals (selection)
Venice International Film Festival 2006 Toronto International Film Festival 2006 Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival 2006 Thessaloniki Film Festival 2006 Stockholm International Film Festival 2006 Gijón International Film Festival 2006 Rotterdam
International Film Festival 2007 Brugge Cine Novo 2007 Hong Kong International Film Festival 2007 Istanbul International Film Festival 2007