Recently I watched Central do Brasil (look for Central Station in your video store). Not a horrible movie, but the story just really didn't move me. The actors were wonderful though. It stars Fernanda Montenegro as Dora and Vinícius de Oliveira as Josué. Dora writes letters for illiterate people at the train station in Rio. Only she's not really that nice. She usually throws the letters away, figuring her clients won't ever know the difference. She holds a rather dim view of them. They connect when Josué's mother pays Dora to write a letter to Josué's father in central Brazil. But she is killed shortly afterward by a car accident outside the station. Dora befriends Josué, then sells him to what could best be described as a child-selling ring. She has a change of heart, rescues him, and they set off on a journey to find his father. Josué doesn't like Dora much. And Dora tries to ditch Josué several times. Basically Dora's life has no meaning, and Josué has no guidance, and this is how they both find what they are missing.
It's very movie of the week-esque. But wonderful acting. Gritty filmmaking. Very good film. I just wish I could have gotten into the story.
