Truths and lies in Prime Video’s Tremembé series about São Paulo’s famous prison
The Tremembé series arrived on Prime Video on October 31, 2025 and presents life in the Tremembé Women’s Penitentiary, in Vale do Paraíba, in São Paulo. The five-episode production brings together inmates involved in media crimes, such as Suzane von Richthofen and Elize Matsunaga, in a narrative that combines real events with dramatic adaptations. The screenwriters used journalistic books to structure the plot, which underwent legal evaluation before its release.
Marina Ruy Barbosa plays Suzane von Richthofen, convicted in 2002 of murdering her parents. Letícia Rodrigues plays Alexandre Nardoni, known as Sandrão, while Carol Garcia plays Elize Matsunaga, imprisoned since 2012. The cast also features Kelner Macêdo as Cristian Cravinhos and representations of other famous inmates.
The story begins with Suzane’s transfer to Tremembé after a rebellion in another prison unit. This displacement actually occurred in 2014, motivated by risks to the inmate’s safety. The series condenses chronologies to maintain the rhythm, without distorting the main events.
Documented arrivals and routines at the prison
Suzane von Richthofen joined Tremembé in 2014, after the incident at the Ribeirão Preto Penitentiary. The unit houses around 400 women and separates wings by risk level.
Elize Matsunaga arrived in the same year, shortly after the sentence, and participated in internal work activities. Alexandre Nardoni transferred to the men’s wing in 2010, maintaining supervised contacts.
Roger Abdelmassih entered prison in 2010, convicted of multiple rapes. He tried to simulate health problems to avoid trials, according to official records.
Interpersonal relationships confirmed
Suzane von Richthofen, Elize Matsunaga and Sandrão formed a real affective triangle inside the penitentiary. Interactions included daily conversations and struggles for influence in the ward.
Cristian Cravinhos had a relationship with another detainee in the men’s section. This call lasted years and was recorded in prison reports.
- Friendships between Nardoni and Cravinhos emerged through collective activities.
- Inmates shared cleaning tasks and educational workshops.
- Prison officers mediated conflicts to avoid escalations.
- Resocialization programs allowed limited contact between wards.
These links reflect patterns observed in long-term detention environments.
Adaptations for audiovisual narrative
The series reorganizes events from different years into contiguous sequences, such as Elize’s arrival near the main triangle. Essthe choice accelerates the plot without changing central facts.
Dialogues are created based on psychological profiles of the characters. Tense scenes derive from real incidents, such as cell disputes.
The production unites isolated arcs, such as Abdelmassih’s judicial maneuvers, to form a unified plot. Prime Video required legal reviews to ensure factual accuracy.
Based on the books by Ullisses Campbell
Ullisses Campbell released Suzane: Murderer and Manipulator in 2020, after regular visits to the prison. The book compiles interviews and court documents about the 2002 case.
Elize Matsunaga: The Woman Who Quartered Her Husband came out in 2021, detailing the 2012 crime and prison adaptation. Both works serve as the basis for the series. Campbell conducted more than 50 interviews with inmates and staff. He analyzed processes to reconstruct exact chronologies.
The adaptation expands these reports into an episodic format, maintaining the journalistic essence. Prime Video promoted the production as an inside look at the prison system.
Profiles of inmates pictured
Suzane von Richthofen is serving a 39-year sentence, reduced for good behavior, and takes part in professional courses. Elize Matsunaga received 20 years and works in indoor gardens.
Alexandre Nardoni received 30 years for the 2008 crime and is part of reading groups. Cristian Cravinhos progressed to semi-open in 2023 after 38 years of sentence�a.
Roger Abdelmassih has served 181 years for abuse and faces strict monitoring. The series intersperses flashbacks of the crimes with the current routine, always anchored in court records.
The Tremembé prison operates with a capacity for 700 inmates and follows Depen-SP protocols. Notorious inmates receive isolated cells during periods of tension. Prime Video’s production uses these rules to contextualize interactions, offering a structured view of day-to-day prison life without adding speculative elements.
