Elena is a documentary that follows the story of a young Brazilian woman who leaves her home and family behind to pursue her dream of becoming an actress in New York City. The film is a poignant exploration of the persistence of memories, the irreversibility of loss, and the impact of a sister's absence on a 7-year-old girl. Through the lens of director Petra Costa, who also stars in the film as herself, Elena delves into themes of family, maternity, pain, and separation, set against the backdrop of Brazil's post-military dictatorship era. The documentary is a powerful tribute to the adventure of growing up and the pursuit of dreams, even in the face of adversity.

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Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as Elena include Brothers of the Night, Impossible Dreamers, Soaked in Bleach, Bully, Kinderblock 66: Return to Buchenwald, Da Vinci's Darkest Secret.