Once Upon a Time Veronica (2012)

Fresh from the crucible of medical school in Recife, Veronica (Hermila Guedes) finds herself tossed into the turbulent seas of Brazil's public health system. Here, she is confronted by the chasm between the idealism of textbooks and the raw, unvarnished reality of medicine: endless queues of patients, indifferent colleagues, and disgruntled patients who defy medical advice, often expressing their dissatisfaction in the most shocking ways. In her quest for self-understanding, Veronica develops a dual persona, considering herself as "patient Veronica," a vessel for her own empathetic exploration of her isolation despite her seemingly perfect life on paper. Away from the hospital's chaotic halls, Veronica oscillates between roles: she's a devoted daughter to her sickly father, a lover experiencing passion that is more tepid than torrid with her boyfriend, and a dreamer who loses herself in fantasies of beach revelries. An intricately woven narrative, Once Upon a Time Veronica is a poignant exploration of a young woman grappling with the stark contrast between her expectations and reality, both in her professional and personal life. It's a compelling journey into the heart of self-discovery and the relentless pursuit of one's place in the world.

Once Upon a Time Veronica is a drama movie featuring Hermila Guedes and directed by Marcelo Gomes.

Once Upon a Time Veronica is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV.