A young mother in the Alto; she works in the tomato fields and faces numerous challenges with child mortality, having only five surviving children out of twelve pregnancies.

A middle-aged mother and half-sister to Lordes, who works as an undocumented laborer in the sugarcane fields; she handles the burdens of numerous pregnancies and limited access to healthcare.

The general manager of the Água Preta sugarcane plant who views the usina as a beneficial presence in the community, despite acknowledging widespread issues like child mortality.

The eldest son of a prominent family in Bom Jesus and a supporter of industrial modernization, who grapples with concerns about the future of his workers amidst changes in the sugarcane industry.

A struggling dentist and part-time biology teacher in Bom Jesus, whose views on political and social issues reflect a complex relationship with his own class status.

A middle-aged woman known as "Black Irene" who faces challenges in obtaining medical care and navigates the systemic inequalities of her community.

The wife of a wealthy businessman in Bom Jesus, who adopts a child and integrates her into the family under the guise of Christian charity.

The 7-year-old son of Terezinha, who suffers from chronic malnutrition in the Alto, and faces critical health struggles as his family copes with scarcity.

An unemployed laborer from the Alto who experiences the anxiety of living in poverty, struggling to provide for his family in a community marked by economic uncertainty.

A 32-year-old man plagued by ambiguous health issues known as nervos, representing the challenging health conditions in the Alto community.

A known mother of saints in the Alto who succumbs to illness, capturing the mysterious interplay of traditional beliefs and health issues in the region.

The teenage son of Dona Irene who is abducted, illustrating the fear and violence affecting the lives of Alto's residents.

The Secretary of Health for Bom Jesus, who speaks to the challenges of addressing child mortality within the community's inadequate health system.

A civil servant tasked with recording vital statistics in Bom Jesus, struggling with incomplete and ambiguous data in her work.

The second child of Lordes, initially neglected by his mother but ultimately surviving against the odds, illustrating the precarious nature of life in the Alto.

A midwife and folk healer who blends traditional beliefs with the realities of infant care, accepting the limits of her ability with the divine will.

A young mother from the Alto who appears detached after the burial of her infant, reflecting a cultural view on the early loss of children.

An older half-sister of Lordes and Biu, who has managed to navigate her life's challenges with wit, while remaining supportive of her family.

The local priest of Bom Jesus who acknowledges the cultural significance of carnaval in his community, linking it to the people's hardships.

Biu's youngest daughter who suffers from a severe cough leading to her passing, highlighting the healthcare challenges faced by families in the Alto.

A revered religious figure who denounces societal corruption, aligning himself with principles of liberation theology.

A missionary priest from El Salvador who preaches liberation theology, advocating for traditional Afro-Brazilian healing practices in the Alto.