With never-before-seen accounts by Gloria Perez and from authorities involved in the investigation, the original documentary series from the streaming platform revisits in detail the facts and the trial of the murder that impacted Brazil in 1992.
São Paulo, July 5, 2022 – HBO Max presents the official trailer and poster of the original documentary series A BRUTAL PACT: THE MURDER OF DANIELLA PEREZ, which premieres throughout Latin America exclusively on the streaming platform on July 21. Directed by Tatiana Issa and Guto Barra, who also wrote the script, the five-episode Max Original production reconstructs in detail the events and the trial of the case that shocked Brazil in the early 1990s.
In 1992, actress and dancer Daniella Perez was murdered by Guilherme de Pádua and his wife, Paula Thomaz, in a gruesome premeditated crime. The untimely death of the 22-year-old shocked the country. The murder of Daniella, daughter of Brazilian author and International Emmy award winning producer Gloria Perez, gained notoriety and occupied the front pages of national newspapers for years.
After three decades, Gloria Perez resumes her search for the truth behind this story that changed her life forever. The author shares her experience as the production presents, via unpublished records, the details of the investigations and the trial of this aggravated murder case.
As the mother of the victim, she sought out witnesses, identified evidence and helped expose the mistakes by the Brazilian authorities. Her participation was essential for the resolution of the case, in addition to having left a legacy when she managed to change Brazilian legislation, getting them to include aggravated murder as part of the heinous crimes list.
For the director and screenwriter Guto Barra, the true crime production contributes to shedding light on this tragedy that marked Brazil. “Through meticulous investigative work, we bring to light the barbarity of the crime, with information that was not revealed at the time of the murder." According to Tatiana Issa, who directed and worked with Guto, "the case of Daniella Perez inspires many feelings, and the documentary series reveals not only Daniella as an artist, daughter and wife, but also the shortcomings of the Brazilian legal system.”
“We have a reliable production, supported by rigorous research work, which portrays the perverse nature of a landmark crime that took place in Brazil. For HBO Max, making this series possible reflects our commitment to identifying stories that deserve to be amplified to the general public and brings together surprising elements,” reveals Tomás Yankelevich, Chief Content Officer General Entertainment for Latin America and US Hispanic for Warner Bros. Discovery.
The documentary series includes never-before-seen accounts from Daniella Perez's closest family and friends, who fondly remember the artist and offer their perspectives and memories of the tragedy. Among them are the actress’ widower Raúl Gazolla and other Brazilian actors, such as Claudia Raia, Fábio Assumpção, Maurício Mattar, Cristiana Oliveira and Eri Johnson.
The reconstruction of the case also includes testimonies from key players throughout the process, such as the prosecutor (Piñero Filho), the main witness (Antonio Curado), journalists who interviewed the murderers (Luciléia Cordovil, Elsa Boechat), specialists in psychopathic personalities (Ana Beatriz Barbosa and Ilana Casoy) and other related professionals and authorities.
A BRUTAL PACT: THE MURDER OF DANIELLA PEREZ is a Max Original production, produced by Producing Partners. The documentary series is directed by Tatiana Issa and Guto Barra, who also wrote the script.
