Shaped in Mud is a documentary short about André Dos Santos, a French American, a former soldier, a widowed father, and published author. It traces André Dos Santos’ journey from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to the under-served suburbs of Paris, and the uncertain promise of the United States.
Raised by a single, working mother amid poverty and crime. At sixteen André becomes entangled in a web of drug distribution, and street life before migrating to New York City in search of a better opportunity. This path leads through turmoil and survival hustles, facing federal indictment on RICO charges and avoiding jail-time by a margin at eighteen, to deportation and re-entry, military service, fatherhood, and a profound personal loss.
At its core, the film is an intimate portrait of resilience and expose of the fragile possibility of transformation within the American system. More than one man's story, Shaped in Mud is an existential inquiry, a tale of fatherhood, healing, and the enduring power of grace for redemption.
Shaped in Mud
A documentary portrait of André Dos Santos, a life sculptured by hardship, resilience, and a silent refusal to be erased.
...he turned every closed door and denial into purpose, and came out on the other side literally, redeemed and refined.
This production is taking us this Summer 2026 to Garges-lès-Gonesse, north of Paris, France. André's home town, the city his French mother settled in when she left Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. From age two to eighteen, growing up, school, street and life lessons' here André had his early formative years and experience.
Still based in Paris, André's Mother, Isabelle Joly, Kore Able Vincent, his childhood friend and Daloba Diaby, André's ex-girl friend are all scheduled for Interview shoots to be followed with b-rolls, aerial shots of his life story till high-school, before his eventual trip to the USA.
Production continues here in the US very late Summer 2026: El Paso Matthew, Gissey, André's friend and service colleague in the military. He is currently based in El Paso, and still a service member.
The formal production set for SHAPED IN MUD takes place in ATLANTA in the Fall, 2026. André Dos Santos (Main Subject). Quan Myers, André's Brother In-Law, and Oliver Shannon, Andre and Alexis' mutual friend to be flown in from Nebraska to reduce production costs.
Produced & Directed by Brume Mukoro · Edited in Paris France / Atlanta, GA.