The Brazilian writer portrays the struggle for the roots of some peasants who are descendants of slaves without permission to settle. 

Every Brazilian farmer, whether white or indigenous, had a homeland to return to when things went wrong in rich estates with poor wages. All except the black descendants of slaves, who knew no way back. This is the premise of «Arado torcido» by Itamar Vieira Junior, a book that delves into the harsh realities of these people and their quest for roots in a place where they were not allowed to settle. Forced to build makeshift mud huts and rebuild them when washed away by floods, their only right was to reconstruct their adobe walls, but never with permanent materials, as it was forbidden to stay. They were renamed as «workers» or «residents» after slavery was abolished, but they remained slaves. The book, inspired by reality, tells the story of the 20th century through the eyes of two sisters, descendants of slaves, who are both united and divided by a common prank that led to one losing her tongue. The narrative explores the harshness of near–contemporary slave labor and the family’s submission to the estate of millionaires who will want to sell as soon as it’s not profitable. The book highlights the precarious life of these farmers,  the drought, child labour and illiteracy. Brazil is a country of deep inequalities, where it is common to find people working in slavery-like conditions and experiencing the harmful effects of climate change. The book, which has been adapted for the stage in Madrid, also focuses on the strong influence of ancestors and healers, who are spiritual leaders offering comfort to their community and uniting people in adversity. Centuries of slavery have created a classification of life and its value that has never been deconstructed. Today, black people have a louder voice and more space to demand equality, but there is a need for reparative policies and time to reverse the immense social gap between whites and blacks. The protagonists, both white and black, will fight battles that the healers cannot face, as murder, crime, and exploitation accompany the empty hands of those who can’t even aspire to settle.