Toquinho is a young man living in Marechal Hermes, a poor neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, together with his widow mother and a younger sister. Although he is poor, he is also ambitious, and wants to change his life. He spends all his time on the beach, at Arpoador, Ipanema, where he dreams to become a famous surfer. Besides, he usually finds Patricia there, a rich and liberated young woman, whom he likes a lot. To impress Patricia and satisfy some of her wishes, he lets himself be seduced by André, a gay guy who, in return for his sexual favors, promises him a trip to Hawaii for a surf championship.

Romantic adventures of a group of Rio de Janeiro teenagers and surfers.

Comedic portrait of middle-aged women in Rio de Janeiro, including overworked housewife Magali and her over-the-top twin sister Magda, psychoanalyst Paula and her troublesome daughter Melanie, and stage star in crisis Lise.

Biography of one of the legendary names in the Samba genre of Brazilian music. Although he could hardly dance or play an instrument, he became one of the main composers of Portela, an important Samba "school" in Rio de Janeiro.

Tadeu, a poor lad from the Northeast of Brazil, comes to Rio de Janeiro to try his luck. His good looks and education win him the favor of rich people. In his spare time, he becomes the favorite among lonely and rich ladies. Soon he gets involved in trouble.

The story of the famous "Polacas", Jewish women deceived into prostitution in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1900's. Ricardo interviews Mrs. Mira, who struggles to bring back memories from her mother's past as a Polaca.

Grieved over the loss of their daughter, an elderly couple has decided do spend their vacation travelling around Europe. The cab driver who takes them to the airport, Leo, overhears their conversation and decides to profit from their situation: Leo convinces the couple's staff he's their nephew, and invites his friends and girlfriend over for a special summer. Things go awry when his friend Marcelo arrives with a bus full of teenagers, who believe the mansion is actually a summer camp.

The story of Domitila de Castro Canto e Melo, the Marquise of Santos, the most famous of the mistresses of Dom Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil.