Gabriel Batista After a decade, I return to this unique experience, the best Brazilian film I've ever seen. Now, as a more mature spectator, the script came to me like a thump, talking about journeys, learning and things that, even though they are the most unforgettable, have to be left behind. "Central Station" is for the world!

classicsoncall When an elderly woman's conscience gets the best of her, she rescues a young boy who recently lost his mother and embarks on a journey to unite the boy with the father he never knew. One is given enough clues to understand that the effort will not end successfully in one respect, as the absent father's reputation seems to precede him as a drunkard and a louse. What one doesn't see coming is the fact that the man actually had another family, having married Josue's (Vinícius de Oliveira) mother after his first wife died. Not only did Josue not know his real father, he was not aware that he had two older step-brothers, one of which shared a similar disdain for his wayward parent. I was a little taken aback at how acerbic Josue was toward Mrs. Dora (Fernanda Montenegro) at first, calling her ugly for looking like a man and generally treating her with disrespect. It went both ways somewhat, but Dora's innate humanity eventually came forward to save a young soul who might otherwise have been cast to any manner of bad outcomes. As they grew to know one another a little better, you could feel the bond forming between them. If I had to guess, I would bet that Dora threw in that line in the letter she read from the missing father to Josue's mother, the one about desiring to live with her and his other sons, including Josue. The kid wasn't buying it, but for the viewer, I think it remains in the eye of the beholder.With all that went before, I thought the ending was somewhat abrupt, but then again, that's how life goes sometimes. Though it wasn't necessarily a 'happy ever after' conclusion, one comes away with a warm feeling that the young boy Josue would not be left to a heartless world as long as understanding individuals like Mrs. Dora were around.

Kirpianuscus Central Station has a great virtue - after you see it, it becomes a part from yourself. it sounds strange but it is more than a film. it is just an experience. simple, seductive, touching, realistic, discovering social isles, powerful feelings, inventing, in cruel honest manner, a world having the axis a not ordinary friendship. Fernanda Montenegro and Vinicius de Oliveira. this is all. a station and its letters, a meet and a long and special trip as start to define yourself. the film is one of the most impressive examples of the talent of Fernanda Montenegro.her Dora is far to be a model. but only a fascinating character who start as embroidery of expectations, frustrations, fear and need of comfort. more than a story, the film propose an admirable, useful parable. and a good support to reflect about every day experiences. at the first sigh.

fatsamuraireviews I have always been a fan of redemption stories. In this movie, Isadora's redemption is done in such a dynamic way that I can say my feelings about her transform with her through her journey. Her quest to bring a young boy to his father makes her face some things from her past she has not dealt with. This movie does a wonderful job of taking us through several settings in Brazil -- from the very rough streets of the city to the laid-back countryside. This movie is a combination of buddy road picture and redemption film. From a filmmaker's standpoint there are several technical aspects of this movie I respect. This is one of the films that I was assigned to watch for a film class. It has a green light from me, please rent this film and enjoy. The movie is not one I would normally seek out. I enjoy foreign films and subtitles do not scare me away, but I didn't think the cover made it sound very interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a hidden gem. It's worth a look.To see more of this review please go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/central-station.html