CENTRAL STATION

Review: Dora, a former school teacher now makes a living by writing letters for illiterate people at Rio de Janeiro’s main train station. One of her clients is a nine-year-old son Josue and his mum Ana. All Josue wants is to meet his father that he has never met. Ana has a nasty accident which leaves Josue on his own. Dora’s life then changes and she helps him find his father. They go on a journey to Brazil’s remote Northeast.
Director: Walter Salles
Actors: Fernanda Montenegro, Vinicius de Oliveira, Marilia Pera and Caio Junqueira
Year: 1998
Genre: Art House, International and Drama
Conclusion: 4/5
From the same director who directed The Motorcycle Diaries (2004). I found this to be a really powerful film and had no idea where it was heading. This film gives us a great idea of what modern Brazil is actually like. Vinicius de Oliveira, beat out more than 1,500 other young actors for the role of Josué. He was actually discovered by the director in an airport, shining shoes. The reason for this not winning an Academy Award was because it was up against Life is Beautiful (1997). At the Golden Globe Awards in 1999 this won for Best Foreign Language Film (Brazil). At the Bafta Awards in 1999 this won for Best Film not in the English Language.