Exceptional, and exceptionally moving, this deservedly acclaimed memory piece from Walter Salles (MOTORCYCLE DIARIES/’04) follows a large Brazilian family living a near idyllic life a stone’s throw from the beach in Rio de Janeiro, who fall into the black hole of government surveillance and unwarranted arrest in the country’s 1970s military dictatorship. The father, a former congressman now in construction, is first to be brought in ‘for questioning,’ shortly followed by his wife and second oldest daughter. We never do find out exactly what he’s charged with, but he’s does seem to be handling messages and letters from illegally held prisoners trying for contact with the outside. Unaware of anything he even might be doing, the daughter is soon released, the wife after a longer, more degrading stay. Taken from the son’s memoir written decades later on the events, the film never over states or over plays things. The facts, actions and family response offering all that’s needed to hold us in the grip of this intensely personal drama within the larger events being played out. The film using fortitude in a way most projects dealing with such subjects might have used suspense. With Fernanda Torres holding both family and film together as the mother, fully justifying all the nominations and awards she received. Much helped by Salles who refuses to push either personal tragedy or politics too hard. A brief aside on how ‘good people must do something’ about as far as he’ll go. All while imaginatively visualizing the era on the technical side. His use of recreated ‘Super-8' home movies particularly well done and effective. Just don’t go in hoping to see the wicked punished.*
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Or hoping anyone might learn something about political abuses by visiting the past. Check out the latest election results in Chile where a Pinochet legacy candidate has just won the top office. And probably best not to look too close to home . . . or in the mirror.
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