In the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, funk music reigns supreme. And for Sabrina (Duda Santos), becoming the queen of “kinky funk” (or “putería,” as it’s called in Brazil) isn’t a dream. It’s an inevitability. Young, smart and determined, with undeniable skills on the mic and a mouth that’s even filthier than those of her male counterparts, Sabrina has what it takes to succeed in this colorful world of hard beats and unbridled sexuality, but she’ll have to crash the gates of polite society to get there. Will she forget where she came from in the process?

With an ensemble cast that blends professional actors with real-life funk luminaries like MC Nem, Lellê and DJ Crazy Jeff, director Aly Muritiba (Private Desert) infuses Funk with an electrifying energy. Immersive camerawork makes you feel as though you’re right there on the dance floor with the characters, adding a stylish touch to the film’s many musical sequences. Meanwhile, Santos’ committed performance keeps the story grounded amidst all the melodrama, creating real emotional stakes for this up-and-coming star. Funk is a musical coming-of-age story set to an infectiously explicit beat.—Frédéric Boyer