Espelho da Vida

Espelho da Vida is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo that premiered on 25 September 2018, replacing Orgulho e Paixão, and ended on 1 April 2019. It is created by Elizabeth Jhin, and directed by Pedro Vasconcelos.

The show features a large ensemble cast headed by; Vitória Strada, João Vicente de Castro, Alinne Moraes, Rafael Cardoso, Irene Ravache, Júlia Lemmertz, Ângelo Antônio, Vera Fischer and Kéfera Buchmann.

Set in both the present time and the 1930s, Espelho da Vida tells the story of Cris Valencia, a budding actress who accompanies her boyfriend to Rosa Branca to make a film based on Julia Castelo, a woman who was mysteriously murdered in the 30s. Cris will also discover she is actually a reincarnation of Julia Castelo. Cris will try to unravel the enigma that befell her in her past life.

Plot
In the town of Rosa Branca, Vicente makes a last request before dying to his wife, Margot: to call back his grandson, the successful filmmaker Alain, so that he realizes a biographical film to tell to the world the story of Julia Castelo, a victim of a crime in the city in the 1930s that left many situations poorly explained. Although he swore he would never return to his hometown after being betrayed ten years earlier by his ex-girlfriend, Isabel, with his cousin Felipe, is willing to fulfill his grandfather's last wish. His girlfriend, the actress Cris Valencia, accompanies him, consequently casting her as the protagonist of the production. During her research in preparation of her role, she encounters a mirror in Julia Castelo's house that allows her to time travel to 1930s, when the crime happened. She also discovers that she is the reincarnation of Julia Castelo.

With the help of Margot, Cris has the chance to unravel all the mysteries of the events and find out if Danilo, Julia's boyfriend at the time, was really the murderer or was wrongly accused, since the lack of documentation and evidence left everything to be just a matter of speculation. The biggest drawback in the life of Alain and Cris is Isabel, willing to do everything to regain her ex-lover. In addition, Cris also has to deal with an overly ambitious artistic rival, Mariane, an enterprising actress who wants the protagonist role of the film at all costs, even if it means harming her.

Cast

 * Vitória Strada as Cristina "Cris" Muniz Valência / Julia Castelo / Beatriz
 * João Vicente de Castro as Alain Dutra / Gustavo Bruno de Luris
 * Alinne Moraes as Isabel Ferraz / Isadora "Dora" Monteiro
 * Rafael Cardoso as Daniel Marques / Danilo Breton
 * Kéfera Buchmann as Mariane Cardoso / Brigite
 * Irene Ravache as Margot Dutra / Hildegard Breton
 * Júlia Lemmertz as Ana Muniz de Castro / Piedade Castelo
 * Ângelo Antônio as Flávio de Castro / Father Luiz
 * Felipe Camargo as Américo Valência / Eugênio Castelo
 * Patrícya Travassos as Edméia "Grace" Ferraz / Graça Monteiro
 * Emiliano Queiroz as André Luiz de Luris
 * Reginaldo Faria as Vicente Dutra / Augusto Breton
 * Patrick Sampaio as Felipe Dutra / Otávio de Luris
 * Letícia Persiles as Dr. Letícia Oliveira / Maristela Jardim
 * Robson Nunes as Afrânio "Bola" Nunes / Benjamin
 * Rômulo Neto as Mauro César Pereira
 * Thati Lopes as Josiane "Josi" Diniz
 * Luciana Paes as Lenita Marques / Milena "Mimi" Trindade
 * Nikolas Antunes as Marcelo Vendrini / Lucas
 * Suzana Faini as The Old Lady / Albertina Castelo
 * Ana Lúcia Torre as Gentileza "Gentil" Marques / Mother Joana
 * Vera Fischer as Maria do Carmo Vilela / Gertrude Trindade
 * Evandro Mesquita as Emiliano Freitas
 * Luciana Vendramini as Solange Sollari
 * Guilherme Hamacek as Vitor Valência
 * Marcelo Laham as Tadeu Tavares
 * Flávia Garrafa as Neusa Tavares
 * Renata Tobelem as Daniela "Dani" Simão
 * Cadu Libonati as Hugo Leitão
 * Anna Rita Cerqueira as Gabriela "Gabi" Dias
 * Débora Ozório as Patrícia "Pat" Vendrini Marques
 * Catarina Carvalho as Michelle Aparecida Tavares
 * Pedroca Monteiro as Cláudio
 * Márcio Machado as Sérgio
 * Maria Mônica Passos as Maria José "Zezé" Leitão / Sister Zélia
 * Andrea Dantas as Abigail Leitão / Sister Dolores
 * Marcelo Escorel as Dr. Dalton Teixeira / Dr. Fabrício
 * Cosme dos Santos as Gerson dos Anjos
 * Andrea Bacellar as Dalva / Firmina
 * Dandara Albuquerque as Sheila dos Anjos
 * Luciana Malcher as Débora Martins / Bendita
 * Miguel Coelho as Jorge Benício
 * Ana Rios as Marina Montez
 * Rosana Dias as Valdete / Celine
 * Wal Schneider as Martim / Hakima
 * José Santa Cruz as Father Léo
 * Clara Galinari as Priscila Ferraz Dutra / Teresa Monteiro
 * Otávio Martins as Jadson Valência / Henrique Castelo
 * Maria Luiza Galhano as Flor Maria dos Anjos

Guest cast

 * Carla Diaz as Carine de Sá / Gisela "Gigi" de Castro
 * Marcos Junqueira as Kikito
 * Haroun Abud as young André
 * Ingrid Guimarães as herself
 * José Loreto as himself
 * Juliana Paes as herself
 * Marcelo Faria as himself

Development
The first title to be considered for production was O Avesso da Vida. For the setting of the telenovela, the fictitious Rosa Branca, the network decided not to build a scenic city, but to record in four historic cities of Minas Gerais: Carrancas, Tiradentes, Ouro Preto and Mariana. The first phase of filming ended on 27 July 2018. The first teaser was released on 25 August 2018.

Casting
Isis Valverde was the first to be considered for the lead role, but she passed on the role due to her pregnancy. Paolla Oliveira was cast in the sequence, but the actress repeat partnership with Rafael Cardoso and Alinne Moraes in Além do Tempo, she eventually moved to Troia; Sophie Charlotte, Bianca Bin and Camila Queiroz were also considered for the role, but the part was eventually given to Vitória Strada. After starring in a number of films, Kéfera Buchmann auditioned and was cast, making her debut in television.

Alexandre Nero and Gabriel Leone were also considered for the roles of Alain and Danilo, but for already being on the air in the main roles of the series Onde Nascem os Fortes. They were replaced by João Vicente de Castro and Rafael Cardoso respectively.

Espelho da Vida: Volume 1
Espelho da Vida: Volume 1 was released on 5 October 2018 by Som Livre. It contains a variety of tracks by various artists.

Espelho da Vida: Volume 2
Espelho da Vida: Volume 2 was released on 7 December 2018 by Som Livre.

Ratings
The premiere registered a viewership rating of 21 points, the same indices recorded by its predecessor, Orgulho e Paixão.