The real-life inspiration behind ‘Elize: Shadows of a Woman’
Netflix just dropped a bombshell trailer for its upcoming psychological thriller, Elize: Shadows of a Woman, from prolific author and screenwriter Raphael Montes, in association with Mariana Torres.
Although dramatised through a fictional lens, the Netflix feature film has a shocking real-life origin that many might not know about.
Directed by Felipe Vellas, Elize: Shadows of a Woman is a forthcoming thriller inspired by the real-life case of Elize Matsunaga. In 2012, the Brazilian native murdered and dismembered her husband, Marcos Matsunaga, in their São Paulo apartment. The couple was reportedly navigating a difficult marriage, which only got worse with Elize’s discovery of her husband’s alleged affair.
What began as an intense confrontation soon spiralled into an extremely violent altercation, culminating in Elize shooting her husband, cutting him into pieces, and scattering the remains in wooded areas in the town of Cotia.
Elize eventually pleaded guilty to the crime, with a jury convicting her of murder and hiding a corpse in 2016. She was reportedly sentenced to 20 years in prison for a gruesome crime that shook the Brazilian public to its core, sparking unrelenting debates and discussions online.
Elize: Shadows of a Woman explores her story, offering insights into the volatile relationship and detailing the choices that ultimately led to a devastating crime. “This is not just a movie about a crime. The aim was to tell a story that would also make people think. We wanted to open up a conversation about violence – what led Elize to commit such a brutal act?” says Montes.
“We wanted to show this woman’s duality. It’s a story people can relate to in many ways, but unfortunately, with the worst possible outcome,” explains Torres.
Netflix has pulled up with an A-list ensemble to breathe new life into Elize: Shadows of a Woman, starring Lorena Comparato as Elize and featuring Henrique Kimura, Miwa Yanagizawa, Julia Shimura, and Denise Weinberg.
Premiering July 22nd, Elize: Shadows of a Woman is produced by Boutique Films, the production company behind Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime, currently streaming on Netflix. Gustavo Mello also produces, with Renata Artigas, Marcelo Maximo, and Adriana Gasper serving as executive producers, and Montes as an associate producer.