Isaura: Slave Girl (1976): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1976, Isaura: Slave Girl is a soap and drama series.

What it’s about. Set in 19th-century Brazil during the waning years of slavery, Escrava Isaura tells the story of Isaura, a white-skinned enslaved woman raised with the manners and education of a noble lady. Though treated with affection by her mistress, Isaura remains legally enslaved and becomes the object of obsessive desire by Leôncio Almeida, the cruel heir to the plantation. After the death of her protector, Isaura falls under Leôncio’s control. Despite his attempts to seduce and dominate her, she resists, determined to preserve her dignity and freedom. Her father, Miguel, helps her escape to Recife, where she adopts a new identity and meets Álvaro, a wealthy and principled abolitionist who falls in love with her. Leôncio eventually tracks her down, leading to dramatic confrontations. In the end, Álvaro rescues Isaura by purchasing Leôncio’s debts, securing her freedom and affirming the story’s central themes of justice, love, and resistance against oppression.

Who’s in it. Isaura: Slave Girl stars Lucélia Santos as Isaura dos Anjos / Elvira, Rubens de Falco as Leôncio Correia de Almeida, Edwin Luisi as Álvaro Santana de Souza and Roberto Pirillo as Tobias Paes Vidal, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Isaura: Slave Girl has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Isaura: Slave Girl page.

If you liked it. Fans of Isaura: Slave Girl tend to enjoy Yo soy Betty, la fea, La hija del Mariachi, Brazil Avenue and El Señor de los Cielos.