A Força do Querer

A Força do Querer (English title: Edge of Desire, lit. 'The Force of Wanting') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and aired by TV Globo from 3 April 2017 to 20 October 2017. Written by Glória Perez, directed by Rogério Gomes and Pedro Vasconcellos.^[3][4]

A Força do Querer
Also known as	Edge of Desire
Genre	Telenovela Romance
Created by	Glória Perez
Directed by	Rogério Gomes Pedro Vasconcelos
Creative director	Rogério Gomes
Starring	Lilia Cabral Maria Fernanda Cândido Juliana Paes Isis Valverde Paolla Oliveira Humberto Martins Dan Stulbach Rodrigo Lombardi Marco Pigossi Fiuk Bruna Linzmeyer Emilio Dantas Edson Celulari Débora Falabella Carol Duarte Zezé Polessa
Opening theme	"O Quereres" by Caetano Veloso[1]
Country of origin	Brazil
Original language	Portuguese
No. of episodes	172 (original version) 150 (international version)[2]
Production
Production locations	Belém Manaus Rio de Janeiro
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	29–73 minutes
Original release
Network	TV Globo
Release	3 April (2017-04-03) – 20 October 2017 (2017-10-20)

The telenovela features an ensemble cast of Isis Valverde, Marco Pigossi, Fiuk, Bruna Linzmeyer, Paolla Oliveira, Juliana Paes, Emilio Dantas, Rodrigo Lombardi, Débora Falabella, Dan Stulbach, Lilia Cabral and Maria Fernanda Cândido.

The show addresses contemporary themes that affect modern Brazilian culture, such as drug trafficking, gambling and transgender sexuality, and has received positive reception from viewers and critics.

Production

Indaruba served as a filming site for the fictitious town of Parazinho.

In April 2016, Glória Perez announced her next telenovela, due to premiere in the first half of 2017. She also stated that it would be different from the ones she had produced in the previous 20 years, which featured different settings and culture-oriented storylines. A Força do Querer mainly features romance and is entirely shot in Brazil.^[5][6] Originally titled À Flor da Pele during early stages of production, it was changed to Flor do Querer in November 2016 and to the current title in December 2016.^[7][8][9]

Casting

Paolla Oliveira was the first to be cast for the project, and was announced to star in the telenovela in March 2016.^[10][6] Fábio Assunção was originally cast to portray Eugênio but later declined in order to star in a then upcoming television series.^[11] Dan Stulbach was then cast.^[12] Leopoldo Pacheco was originally cast as Junqueira but he and Chay Suede preferred Novo Mundo. Suede was the first option to portray Ruy. Daniel Rocha also auditioned for the role of Ruy but Fiuk was preferred over him.^[13] Vera Fischer was also cast but due to personal differences with the showrunner, she was replaced by Betty Faria.^[14]

The character of Bibi was inspired by Fabiana Escobar, known as "queen of pot". Showrunner Glória Perez initially wanted the character to be the center of a separate miniseries but decided to include it in the telenovela.^[15][16][17]

Since her role is inspired by a siren, Isis Valverde was prepared for three months in readiness for her character by, Mirella Ferraz, a professional in that part.^{[18][19][clarification needed]}

Plot

Promising lawyer Caio is considered for administration of the Garcia Company, one of the largest in the country. However, when Bibi decides to end their relationship, he leaves everything behind, and relocates to the United States. Fifteen years later, Caio returns to Brazil to take up a position in the judiciary and once again meets Bibi, who failed to complete college and is married to Rubinho. Rubinho goes through a delicate financial condition, as he and Bibi struggle to make ends meet which forces him to enter into the world of crime.

Ruy is prepared to take over the company of his father Eugênio, as the only qualified heir. He is engaged to Cibele, who offers him professional and personal stability. When he travels to Parazinho, he is enchanted by Ritinha, a young woman who loves the fascination she exerts on men, and seems to believe herself to be a mermaid. She continues a game of seduction with Ruy despite being engaged to Zeca, a truck driver who loves her intensely despite the gossips about her activities. On the day of their wedding he learns of Ritinha's fling with Ruy. Fearing for her life, Ritinha runs away with Ruy while Zeca angrily leaves Parazinho. In another town, Zeca meets Jeiza, a police officer who dreams of becoming a mixed martial arts fighter.

Meanwhile, Ruy's brother Ivan (previously Ivana) has been undergoing female to male gender reassignment, causing conflict with their mother, Joyce. Joyce's relationship with Eugênio begins to crumble when he meets Irene, a seductive woman who tries to break their marriage. Eugênio's older brother Eurico tries to keep everyone under his control, though he can't control the gambling addiction of his wife Silvana.

Cast

Actor	Character
Fiuk	Ruy Beraldo Garcia[20][21]
Marco Pigossi	José Ribamar do Carmo (a.k.a. Zeca)[22]
Isis Valverde	Rita Rosa Ferreira Garcia (a.k.a. Ritinha)[23][24]
Paolla Oliveira	Jeiza Nascimento Rocha[25][26]
Juliana Paes	Fabiana Duarte Feitosa (a.k.a. Bibi / Bibi Perigosa / Baronesa do Pó) / Soraya Guedes[27][28]
Emilio Dantas	Rubens Feitosa (a.k.a. Rubinho / Barão do Pó) / Naldo Guedes[29]
Rodrigo Lombardi	Caio Borges Garcia[30][31]
Carol Duarte	Ivan Garcia (previously Ivana)[32][33]
Bruna Linzmeyer	Cibele Sabóia Dantas[34][21]
Débora Falabella	Irene Steiner / Solange Lima[35][36]
Maria Fernanda Cândido	Joyce Garcia[37]
Dan Stulbach	Eugênio Garcia[38]
Lília Cabral	Silvana Garcia[39]
Humberto Martins	Eurico Garcia[40]
Edson Celulari	Raul Dantas Sabóia (a.k.a. Dantas)[41]
Elizângela	Aurora Duarte[40]
Zezé Polessa	Edinalva Ferreira[40]
Tonico Pereira	Abel Simplício do Carmo (a.k.a. Seu Abel)[40]
Juliana Paiva	Simone Garcia[42]
Silvero Pereira	Raimundo Nonato da Silva (a.k.a. Nonato) / Elis Miranda[43][44]
Gisele Fróes	Cândida Nascimento Rocha[45]
Luci Pereira	Maria de Nazaré Pereira (a.k.a. Nazaré)
Cláudia Mello	Zuleide (a.k.a. Zu)[40]
Karla Karenina	Benedita (a.k.a. Dita) [40]
Jonathan Azevedo	Wellington Silvino (a.k.a. Sabiá)[46]
Carla Diaz	Carine de Sá[47][48]
João Bravo	André Duarte Feitosa (a.k.a. Dedé) / Yuri Guedes[40]
Betty Faria	Elvira Gomez Garcia[40]
Othon Bastos	Otávio Garcia[40]
Totia Meireles	Maria Helena Borges Garcia (a.k.a. Heleninha)[40]
João Camargo	Junqueira Garcia[40]
Adriano Alves	Yuri Junqueira Garcia[40]
Mariana Xavier	Abigail Lima Santos (a.k.a. Biga)[49][50]
Dandara Mariana	Marilda[51]
Maria Clara Spinelli	Miraceli Almeida (a.k.a. Mira)[52]
Gabriel Stauffer	Claudio[53]
Michelle Martins	Shirley[54]
Pedro Nercessian	Amaro[55]
Lua Blanco	Anita[55]
Hylka Maria	Alessia Silvino[46]
Betty Gofman	Jacira de Sá (a.k.a. Jaci)[56]
Raul Gazolla	Allan Delano[57]
Clarice Derzié Luz	Dr. Selma Tavares
Dig Dutra	Rochelle
Marcos Junqueira	Kikito
Daniel Zettel	Batoré
Caroline Verban	Duda
Antônio Carlos	Guto [58]
Lucy Ramos	Leila Andrade e Silva[40]
Gustavo Machado	Cirilo[40]
Bruno Barbosa	Tatu [40]
Thaty Taranto	Stella
Lorenzo Sousa	Ruy Beraldo Garcia Junior (a.k.a. Ruyzinho)

Participations

Actor	Character
Fafá de Belém	Almerinda Pereira / Mere Star[59]
Tarso Brant	Himself[60]
Well Aguiar	Gerson Amadeu
Érica Paes	Herself[61]
Rodrigo Rangel	Agiota
Danilo Sacramento	João Vicente[62]
Marcello Airoldi	Leandro[63]
Lucci Ferreira	Werneck
João Sabiá	Boto (in human shape)
Guilherme Weber	Douglas
Jandir Ferrari	Amílcar[64][65]
Louise Marrie	Carla [66]
Rosa Malagueta	Neide[67]
Alejandro Claveaux	Vitor[40]
Guilherme Duarte	Denilson Pereira Horta (a.k.a. DH)[68]
Xande Valois	Zeca (child)[40]
João Gabriel Bolshaw	Ruy (child)[40]
Antonietta Uhebe	Ivana (child)
Laíze Câmara	Francineide[69]
Eline Porto	Janete [70]
Raquel Rocha	Vitória
Carolina Coutinho	Celinha
Isabela Catão	Gislene
William Vita	Comandante Cristino
Nivaldo Motta	Lourival[67]
Benki Piyãko	Ashaninka[71]
Luciana Borghi	Dona do Salão
Esther Jablonski	Dr Eva
Cristiane Alves	Dr Olivia
Cristiana Amadeo	Dr Tereza
Karina Mello	Cláudia Barroso
Mario Hermeto	Delegado
Natasha Stransky	Ana
Rose Lima	Luciene
Diogo Nogueira	Himself[72]
Xande de Pilares	Himself[73]
Wesley Safadão	Himself[74]
Nego do Borel	Himself[75]
Marília Mendonça	Herself[76]
Jane di Castro	Herself[77]
Rodrigo Minotauro	Himself[78]
Rogério Minotouro	Himself[78]
Mosquito	Himself
Joelma	Herself[79]
Pabllo Vittar	Herself[80]
Cris Cyborg	Herself[81]
Carina Damm	Herself
Lia Sophia	Herself
Alcione	Herself (last episode)
Poliana Botelho	Herself (last episode)
Fabiana Escobar	Herself (last episode)

Soundtrack

A Força do Querer: Vol. 1

A Força do Querer: Vol. 1
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	2 June 2017
Genre	Pop MPB
Length	58:49
Label	Som Livre

A Força do Querer: Vol. 1 is the first installment of the series of soundtracks of the telenovela.

The album consist of an original score by Roberto Carlos.^[82] "Sereia" (released on 5 April 2017) was composed specifically for the show.^[83]

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Length
1.	"O Quereres"	Caetano Veloso	3:05
2.	"Sereia"	Roberto Carlos	3:35
3.	"Te Faço um Cafuné"	Mariana Aydar	3:44
4.	"Coração Machucado Carlos"	Wesley Safadão	3:40
5.	"Eu Sei de Cor"	Marília Mendonça	2:54
6.	"Boto Namorador"	Dona Onete	4:05
7.	"Pra Você"	Roberta Sá	3:11
8.	"Flor do Ipê"	Marisa Monte	2:43
9.	"City"	Kristen Marie	3:10
10.	"True Colors"	Cyndi Lauper	3:45
11.	"Nobody But Me"	Michael Bublé	3:00
12.	"Sob Medida"	Fafá de Belém	3:42
13.	"Deixa Eu Te Amar"	Agepê	4:03
14.	"Para Uso Exclusivo da Casa"	Dhi Ribeiro	3:54
15.	"Tem Que Provar Que Merece"	Xande de Pilares	3:45
16.	"Tim Tim Por Tim Tim"	Diogo Nogueira	2:46
17.	"I Hate U, I Love U"	Gnash	3:18
18.	"Darkness and Light"	John Legend	3:49
Total length:			58:49

A Força do Querer: Vol. 2

A Força do Querer: Vol. 2
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	4 August 2017
Length	62:04
Label	Som Livre

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Length
1.	"Despacito"	Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee	3:47
2.	"Caçadora"	Lucy Alves	3:06
3.	"Up&Up"	Coldplay	3:58
4.	"Fading Away"	Adam Naas	4:07
5.	"Sign of the Times"	Harry Styles	5:40
6.	"Não Quero Despedida"	Mumuzinho	4:00
7.	"Perigosa"	Anitta	2:08
8.	"Cheguei"	Ludmilla	2:54
9.	"Rei Solano"	Mestre Solano	3:11
10.	"Simples Assim"	Lenine	3:29
11.	"Eu Te Amo"	Chico Buarque and Telma Costa	4:58
12.	"Dom de Iludir"	Nana Caymmi	1:51
13.	"Mande um Sinal"	Djavan	2:57
14.	"Olha"	Alcione	3:28
15.	"De Toda Cor"	Renato Luciano feat. Ney Matogrosso, Oswaldo Montenegro, Laila Garin and Elisa Lucinda	4:55
16.	"Waves"	Dean Lewis	4:01
17.	"Blame"	Calvin Harris feat. John Newman	3:34
Total length:			62:04

Reception

Ratings

The telenovela had an average daily reach of 45 million viewers (number of people who watch at least one minute of the telenovela every day). The plot also swept across social networks and ranked first on the Social Wit List in April 2017, a ranking that highlights the most-commented releases in Latin America.^[84]

Timeslot (AT)	Eps.	Premiere		Finale		Rank	TV season	Average viewership
		Date	Viewers (in points)	Date	Viewers (in points)
Monday–Saturday 9:15 pm	172	3 April 2017	33[85]	20 October 2017	50[86]	1[87]	2017	36[88]

On its premiere, A Força do Querer registered a viewership rating of 32.9 points, the highest premiere viewership since the 2016 debut of Velho Chico.^[85] On its first week of broadcast, it recorded an average of 32 points. It had the second-largest viewership, after Amor à Vida.^[89]

The penultimate episode, that aired on 19 October, recorded 48.8 points of average and peaking at 51 points with a 65% share, hitting the record, according to consolidated data of Ibope in Greater São Paulo. With this indices, A Força do Querer had the highest audience since the last episode of Avenida Brasil, which recorded 52 points on 19 October 2012.^[90]

On the finale, A Força do Querer had the largest audience since the end of Avenida Brasil. Having aired from 9:15 pm to 11:32 pm, the final episode had a record-setting 50.1 points and peaked at 53 points. These were the best ratings since the finale of Avenida Brasil, which had 51.7 points on 19 October 2012. In Rio de Janeiro, the last episode recorded 49 points in average (highest final indices since Império, which had 50 points).^[86]

Cumulatively, the show recorded an average rating of 35.67.^[86][88]

Controversies

The state of Pará

Since its debut, the telenovela received criticism for not using the northeastern accents in the state of Pará and the depiction of the state, such as the existence of an aquarium located in Ver-o-Peso. There were varied opinions among the viewers, especially those from Pará. Rede Globo and show's creator Glória Perez argued that the show was not set in the capital of Pará but in the fictional city of Parazinho and that the work of fiction has no commitment to be true to reality.^[91]

Accusations on glamorization of drug trafficking

The fact that the plot touches on drug trafficking and other crime aroused the idea that the telenovela was unapologetic to such. The show received a flurry of criticism, mainly by evangelists and conservatives.^[92] Pastor and Deputy Marco Feliciano said that, "Rede Globo offered a course for banditry".^[93] Showrunner Glória Perez responded to the accusations:

It is something of people to want to put reality under the rug. Bibi became a thug. She is not the trafficker, but she is prosecuted by association with trafficking. Do you see glamour in that? The plot brings an ethical police, quite different from how it is traditionally shown in Brazilian dramas. These people [critics] make me sleepy.^[94]

Transexuality

Before the debut of the telenovela, the subject of transexuality was already causing controversy. Catholic organizations asked that Globo not allow this theme in the show.^[95] The theme about gender identity, addressed in the plot by the character Ivan was also not accepted by a portion of the audience, among them also evangelists and conservatives. They accused the network of using the telenovela to popularize gender ideology.^[96]