How to be a Carioca: Story, Cast and Series Facts

Story and premise

Irene (Argentina), Matthias (Germany), Nabil (Syria), Laila (Israel), and Karima (Angola) all arrive in Rio de Janeiro for different reasons. Each experiences the beauty and chaos of this wonderful city – and each runs into trouble along the way. Fortunately, they meet a unique "corner cutter" who helps them work through their dilemmas: Francisco, the quintessential Carioca. In the process, they purge prejudices, open themselves up to new cultures, adopt different perspectives, and become advocates for inclusion and equality. Irene, a staunch atheist, has to navigate religious syncretism in Rio in order to fulfill her mother's dying wish. Matthias, a rigorous and inflexible symphony conductor, discovers that improvisation is a pillar of creativity. Nabil, a refugee, intends to take advantage of the freedoms native to Rio to provide a better life for his family. Laila, who has just been discharged from the army, learns from a young boy that the greatest way to take advantage of life's offerings is to expand one's worldview. Karima, a renowned poet, teaches Rio's elite to be proud of their African roots. In the final episode, it's Francisco who is in need of help: he must employ every ounce of his Carioqueness to determine his future in the city he loves — Rio de Janeiro.

Series details

• Title: How to be a Carioca
• Format: Documentary
• Language: Portuguese
• Premiere date: 2023-10-18
• Status in TVmaze: To Be Determined
• Web channel listed by TVmaze: Hulu
• Network country: United States
• Typical episode runtime: 40 minutes
• TVMaze ID: 72029
• IMDb ID: tt2401193
• TVDB ID: 418761

Seasons in the TVmaze catalogue

• Season 1: premiered 2023-10-18; final listed air date 2023-10-18; episode order: 6.

Source and licence

Adapted from How to be a Carioca on TVmaze. The synopsis is reproduced as plain text; catalogue facts, cast and season records are selected and reformatted. This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, following the TVmaze API licence. Network and web-channel credits identify the service listed in this source; they do not establish current streaming availability.