VMLY&R Brazil: Athosgls’s No Love Should Die Young

Around the world, Brazil is perceived as an accepting, open country that celebrates its diversity. However, for trans people living there, life can be hard and fraught with discrimination and violence. As a result, Brazilian trans people have a life expectancy of just 35 years. VMLY&R Brazil worked with Athosgls, the leading LGBTQI+ news portal in the country, to produce a beautiful film that embodies the message #NoLoveShouldDieYoung.

Scripted and produced by top Brazilian talent from the trans community, Thirty-Five is a film about the love of a real trans couple, Guto and Onika, as Onika approaches this landmark birthday. The soundtrack is a cover of Alphaville’s ’80s hit single Forever Young, sung by the Brazilian soul singer Liniker, who is a trans woman. This year – serendipitously – marks the 35th anniversary of the original song’s release.

Thirty-Five is a message of tolerance and hope – hope that couples like Guto and Onika will have the opportunity to grow old together and share their love over a full lifetime.