Anitta: The Girl From Rio Finds Herself in "Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta"
Anitta, the Brazilian music sensation known worldwide, is undergoing a profound transformation, embracing her dual identity in the Netflix documentary "Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta." This revealing film follows the superstar, born Larissa de Macedo Machado, as she navigates the complexities of fame, vulnerability, and the search for true happiness. After a decade of captivating audiences with infectious dance hits, electrifying performances, and an unapologetically empowered sexuality, Anitta is now turning inward, exploring the contrasting facets of her public persona and private self.
The documentary offers a glimpse into the dichotomy of Anitta: the confident and powerful performer who commands the stage, and the insecure and questioning woman who grapples with self-doubt moments before a show. For a long time, Anitta felt compelled to project only strength, believing it was the sole path to success.
"People were only looking at me as one side of myself, which was only the side that has courage, that is outspoken," Anitta revealed. "I kind of felt obligated to be like that forever, and that’s not true. I have another side of me that is insecure, is scared of many other things and is a little shy, and I wanted to make sure I was able to be all of this."
The film draws a parallel between Anitta and Superman, highlighting the existence of Larissa as her Clark Kent, a more vulnerable and relatable persona hidden beneath the surface of the global superstar. "Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta" peels back the layers of Anitta’s carefully constructed image, revealing the raw and authentic woman beneath.
A pivotal element of the documentary is the rekindled relationship between Anitta and co-director Pedro Cantelmo, her childhood friend and former crush. Cantelmo’s presence adds a layer of intimacy and nostalgia to the film, as their bond deepens through candid bedside conversations and playful moments. For Anitta, this level of intimacy was a refreshing change from previous docuseries experiences.
"Before, when we were having people filming, that was not very intimate to me. I would very quickly wear my shell, and I wasn’t feeling vulnerable enough to just show who I was," Anitta explained. "Knowing that he knew me since I was a kid, I knew that there was no pretending. There was no mask that could actually convince him because he knew me forever."
While the documentary captures a hint of romance between Anitta and Cantelmo, the singer emphasizes that the film’s core message is the universality of internal battles. "The vulnerability she found made her more comfortable to open up, to show who I am and to show people the most important message … (which) is that no matter how much money you have, no matter if you’re famous or not, we all deal with internal battles."
The documentary also sheds light on Anitta’s reflections on relationships. She acknowledges the challenges of dating as a global icon, from the complexities of dating fellow celebrities to the intimidation experienced by potential partners. However, Anitta’s focus has shifted to understanding herself as a partner.
"This whole time, I was just thinking I couldn’t find the right person, but nowadays I just think I was not ready to work on a relationship," Anitta confessed. "Now I understand that a relationship is something that requires a lot of work from both sides."
Anitta expresses her belief in the law of attraction, stating, "We always attract what we are vibrating." She now recognizes the importance of self-work and prioritizing relationships, leading to attracting individuals who align with this new perspective.
Beyond Anitta’s personal journey, "Larissa" celebrates her extraordinary achievements. The documentary highlights her historic performance as the first Brazilian solo artist on the Coachella mainstage, a milestone that solidified her status as a global force.
Anitta also achieved unprecedented success with her reggaeton hit "Envolver," becoming the first solo Latin artist to reach No. 1 on Spotify and the first female solo artist to win Best Latin at the MTV Video Music Awards. She acknowledges the significance of these milestones, stating, "Everything had a piece of history for me, and I am really proud of it. I just wish I had enjoyed it a little bit more when it was happening instead of just chasing for more."
Anitta’s perspective on life has evolved, emphasizing enjoyment over relentless ambition. This shift in mindset was evident during her nomination for Best Latin Pop Album at the Grammy Awards, where she embraced a positive outlook. "I learned how to always see things in a positive way and not an anxiety or pressure (of), ‘We need more,’" Anitta said. "There’s no reason to keep going with the journey if there’s no pleasure on it, if there’s no grace on it."
The release of "Larissa" follows the launch of Anitta’s sixth album, "Funk Generation," which represents a return to her roots with Brazilian funk, a genre long stigmatized for its explicit lyrics and association with violence. This album showcases Anitta’s commitment to her heritage and artistic vision. Anitta’s "Funk Generation" spawned the Latin Grammy-nominated hit "Mil Veces" and also the global Baile Funk Experience tour.
"Brazilian funk is a rhythm that went through a lot of prejudice, a lot of struggle, and for me to see it winning like that is really important," Anitta explains. "Doing this album was this whole path of just going for it and showing people that we can do it."
The documentary culminates with Anitta grappling with her reevaluation of happiness and success. She questions whether she would be content if she lost all her material possessions, a reflection sparked by her past experiences with poverty. "If I lost it all tomorrow, would I be happy? That’s what I want to test," she muses during a visit to her hometown of Rio de Janeiro.
Anitta acknowledges that the pursuit of material wealth and success did not bring lasting happiness. "When I was poor, I used to think that I was going to be happy when I had money to live a comfortable life," Anitta says. "That was not true because when I got money to live a comfortable life, I thought I needed more money. I thought I needed more success."
Ultimately, Anitta has discovered a new source of power in embracing the present and accepting life’s inevitable ups and downs. "Happiness nowadays is being aware and conscious that life has ups and downs," Anitta says. "Just deal with it with the tranquility to understand that it all comes and goes."
