Central Station

A young boy looking for his father finds an unexpected accomplice in a grouchy spinster stranger, who has lost touch with all humanity. They come together under tragic circumstances at the Central Station, where the lady is a professional bitch of a letter writer. In their journey across the country, the inevitable happens - the lady warms up to the boy and vice-versa. The movie is funny and captures the beautiful barren parts of Brazil. The city of Rio also reminds one so much of Bombay. Solid.

Rating: * * *

The House of Sand

A pregnant Áurea (Fernanda Torres) with her mother (Fernanda Montenegro) follow her mad husband's dream of settling in the deserts of Maranhão, Brazil. Death and betrayal soon leave the two women stranded in this remote paradise. Áurea gives birth to Maria and the sands of time sift through their fingers...

The two Fernanda's seamless exchange roles across generation. Seu Jorge plays a stoic role far removed the one he played in The Life Aquatic. The cinematography is breathtaking and the landscape soon becomes the lead actress.

Rating: * * *

The Other Side of the Street

I first saw Fernanda Montenegro in "Central Station". There she does some amazing acting as a school teacher who helps a young boy search for his father. Her role in this movie does not live up to that one. Here she plays a 60 year old lonely woman who moonlights as a police informant. One night she spies her neighbor killing his wife. The movie follows her investigation of her neighbor and the romance that unfolds. And by God I could not watch those scenes of the two of them making out :-)

Rating: * * +

PS: For some reason the phrase "The Other Side of my Life" is stuck in my head now. I wonder what if it means anything...