Prismark10
Central Station is a road movie set in Rio where it is a dog eat dog society if you are poor. Dora a retired teacher works in a train station concourse where she writes letters for illiterates and usually does not post them even though she has been paid for this service.Josue is a young boy who has been orphaned since his mother was hit by a bus. He is a wise kid sensing Dora was scamming her mother who paid her to write letters to his father far away.Dora reluctantly takes him in but she has no altruistic reasons for this. She sells him to an adoption agency and uses the money to buy herself a new television set. Her friend tells her that the kids are not adopted, their organs are used for transplants.Maybe it is guilt, she takes him back and they go looking for his father with the little money they have. Dora is still reluctant, along the way she tries to leave him once more but something inside her makes her stick with him.They get to Josue's father's town but things get more complicated which includes meeting half siblings. The film is more about Dora, a selfish woman wrapped up in her world, trying to get by whilst making a buck. The journey stirs her own memories with her father. She realises at the end that Josue needs to be with his family and uses her writing skills to good effect this time.
giapvu
it is amazing the ability of director Water Salles to play at the heartstrings with such painful eloquence; fluid in a sense that the ubiquitous issues explored within the context of the film "Central Do Brazil" or "Central Station" were secondary to the road trip of two lives intersecting at a train station; a place where people come and go on their own subjective way.to be honest I couldn't tell if Walter Salles view on religion were pro or con; even after the continues repetition of religious symbols. At first it appeared to be in the positive based on the premise that images of piousness, self-sacrifice, or charity were themes played throughout the film in association with religion. It appeared that Salles was making a connection that man is on a quest for enlightenment through the interconnectedness of different modes of transportation that bring humanity as one; be it a pilgrimage of Christians; or two unlikely partners on a bus, train or truck, in search of unanswered questions. The recurrent images seemed to try to make a link of these two examples.dora seemed to be the only heathen in this quest, which in retrospect seems to be Salles possible speaker for the truth. From spectator feelings of ambivalence to hatred, and coming full circle to being the hero of the story, we see acts of courage in Dora's transformation from the poster boy of everything ugly in Brazil, to the embodiment of true altruism. She is the "clarity" in a convoluted Brazil - or humanity - who is left on its own without the so-called benefits and safety of civil society or an absolute dogma.in Central Station, we are like flocks of migrating birds together for safety from an indeterminate existence; in search of intangibles be it love, god, or an answer for mass suffering. It is not mans fault that he is drawn to mysticism to heal the wounds of poverty but it is the fault of society and the unequal distribution of wealth that leaves the majority scraping for leftovers.
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
Abby Sawyer
Brazilian director Walter Salles (of "Motorcycle Diaries" fame) has created a visually beautiful and emotionally heartwarming film. The opening scenes impacted me the most. Hearing the various stories and letters that the travelers dictate to Dora are touching and set the tone for the movie. In fact it is the letters that bring Josué and Dora together and initiate the journey that they embark on together to find Josué's father who he has never met. While traveling through the countryside the audience gets to enjoy shot after shot of breathtaking scenery and is really able to appreciate the beauty of Brazil. There is a subtle religious symbolism that is most noticeable in the biblical names of the characters. Young Josué is searching for and continually waiting for Jesus to come back. He has put his faith in something unseen but has no doubts about its existence. It's his child-like faith that ultimately inspires Dora to believe as well that Jesus will one day return. Although Josué is the one searching for something, it is Dora who discovers more than she ever expected.
AD
