RITAS (2025), dir. Oswaldo Santana Rita Lee Jones de Carvalho, known as Rita Lee, was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, TV host, and author, widely recognized as the "Queen of Brazilian Rock". Born in São Paulo in 1947, Rita had a groundbreaking music career, with hits spanning both rock and MPB (Brazilian Popular Music). She was one of the first women to play electric guitar on Brazilian stages. During the military dictatorship, she was arrested while pregnant; Rita was known for standing up to the regime: through her music, her public statements, and her bold presence both on stage and off. In 1995, she was excommunicated by the Catholic Church following a performance at a Rolling Stones concert in Rio de Janeiro, where she dressed as Our Lady of Aparecida and recited a Hail Mary prayer. The excommunication was a response to what the Church considered an "affront to religious sentiment". Rita passed away in 2023 after battling lung cancer, but her legacy in Brazilian music and culture continues to inspire.
