“Central do Brasil” (Central Station) is a Brazilian drama film directed by Walter Salles, released in 1998. The movie follows Dora (played by Fernanda Montenegro), a retired schoolteacher who works as a letter writer for illiterate people at Rio de Janeiro's Central Station. One day, a young boy named Josué (played by Vinícius de Oliveira) asks for her help in writing a letter to his estranged father, who lives in the northeast of Brazil. Dora agrees to help him, but after the boy's mother is killed in a bus accident, Dora takes Josué with her on a journey to find his father.
As Dora and Josué make their way through the harsh Brazilian landscape, they encounter many challenges and obstacles, but they also form a strong bond. Along the way, Dora is forced to confront her own past and the reasons why she became disillusioned with teaching. Meanwhile, Josué begins to open up to her and share his own hopes and dreams.
The film explores themes of poverty, identity, and the power of human connection. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the Brazilian landscape and its portrayal of the complexities of human relationships.
“Central do Brasil” was nominated for two Academy Awards in 1999, including Best Foreign Language Film, and won the Golden Bear at the 1998 Berlin International Film Festival. The film has been widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and is considered one of the most important Brazilian films of all time.
| Directed by | Walter Salles |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Arthur Cohn Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre Robert Redford |
| Screenplay by | João Emanuel Carneiro Marcos Bernstein |
| Story by | Walter Salles |
| Starring | Fernanda Montenegro, Vinícius de Oliveira, Marília Pêra, |
| Music by | Antonio Pinto Jaques Morelenbaum Stewart Copeland |
| Cinematography | Walter Carvalho |
| Edited by | Felipe Lacerda |
| Distributed by | Europa Filmes |
| Release date | 16 January 1998 (Switzerland) 3 April 1998 (Brazil) |
| Running time | 113 minutes |
| Countries | Brazil France |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Budget | $2.9 million |
| Box office | $22 million |