Sandra Mara Herzer
Encyclopedia
Anderson Bigode Herzer was a writer
and poet
. He committed suicide
at the age 20. The film Vera
by Sérgio Toledo
is based on Herzer's life.
for the protection of minor
s) whose life and verses were published in a book titled A queda para o alto, (translated as 'descending upwards' in English
as This book, in turn, served as the basis for the Brazilian film production Vera
, directed by Sérgio Toledo Segall (better known as Sérgio Toledo). He was four years old when his father was killed, and his mother, a prostitute at that time, felt unable to take care of him, therefore turning young Herzer in to FEBEM. Sometime soon after that, his mother died.
Although Herzer considered himself to be a lesbian
for some time in his life, he then identified as transsexual. His school records show that he was a problem student, often engaging in fights, using street drugs and consuming alcohol
.
Herzer was institutionalized in FEBEM when he was fourteen years old. At that time he adopted the name Anderson Bigode Herzer (Anderson being a common male first name in Brazil; although bigode is an unusual nickname, meaning mustache). He remained under the State's tutelage until seventeen years of age. At that time Eduardo Suplicy
, a renowned member of parliament
(deputado in Portuguese
), touched by his poems and difficult life, acted as his protégé and hired him as an intern in his office.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at the age 20. The film Vera
Vera (film)
Vera is a Brazilian film written and directed by Sérgio Toledo , and starring Ana Beatriz Nogueira, Norma Blum, Raul Cortez and Carlos Kroeber....
by Sérgio Toledo
Sérgio Toledo
Sérgio Toledo Segall or simply Sérgio Toledo is the son of actress Beatriz Segall and an award-winning Brazilian screenwriter and director most known for his film Vera, that won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Ana Beatriz Nogueira and a nomination for Golden Bear at the 37th Berlin...
is based on Herzer's life.
Life and times
Herzer was a transsexual man, ex-intern of FEBEM or Fundação Estadual para o Bem Estar do Menor (a State institutionInstitution
An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community...
for the protection of minor
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
s) whose life and verses were published in a book titled A queda para o alto, (translated as 'descending upwards' in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as This book, in turn, served as the basis for the Brazilian film production Vera
Vera (film)
Vera is a Brazilian film written and directed by Sérgio Toledo , and starring Ana Beatriz Nogueira, Norma Blum, Raul Cortez and Carlos Kroeber....
, directed by Sérgio Toledo Segall (better known as Sérgio Toledo). He was four years old when his father was killed, and his mother, a prostitute at that time, felt unable to take care of him, therefore turning young Herzer in to FEBEM. Sometime soon after that, his mother died.
Although Herzer considered himself to be a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
for some time in his life, he then identified as transsexual. His school records show that he was a problem student, often engaging in fights, using street drugs and consuming alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
Herzer was institutionalized in FEBEM when he was fourteen years old. At that time he adopted the name Anderson Bigode Herzer (Anderson being a common male first name in Brazil; although bigode is an unusual nickname, meaning mustache). He remained under the State's tutelage until seventeen years of age. At that time Eduardo Suplicy
Eduardo Suplicy
Eduardo Matarazzo Suplicy is a Brazilian left-wing politician, economist and professor. He is one of the founders and main political figures on the Workers Party of Brazil .-Biography:...
, a renowned member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(deputado in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
), touched by his poems and difficult life, acted as his protégé and hired him as an intern in his office.