The synopsis was loosely inspired by an argument by Paulo José called Cidade das Formigas. It was based on what happened in the city of Formiga, in Minas Gerais, where women work for large clothing manufacturers in the country. In Formiga Real, women guarantee a large part of their families' livelihood with this work.

"A Lei e o Crime" (The Law and the Crime) is a Brazilian serial dramatic television series, created by Marcílio Moraes, produced and broadcast by Rede Record, which premiered on January 9, 2009. The series revolves around a low-class worker turned into drugdealer and a noble-blood woman turned into a police captain, who seeks for justice and revenge of her father's death. It is directed by Alexandre Avancini and written by Marcílio Moraes, Joaquim Assis, René Belmonte, Leonardo Gudel, Sylvia Palma, Eduardo Quental and Irene Bosísio. Since its premiere, "A Lei e o Crime" has achieved unexpectedly high audience ratings, with a 20-point average in São Paulo, and constantly leading the ratings in Rio de Janeiro, taking off rival Rede Globo's usual number-one spot.

The story of a young black man, Héracles, who after being released from a juvenile institution, tries to apply for his first honest job as a motorcycle delivery boy. To get the job, he has to perform 12 hard tasks in São Paulo.