Search - Central Station on DVD

Dora and Josue

muskiedine | U.S. | 02/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The transforming and redemptive power of forgiveness is the major theme in this moving film from Brazil. The two leads, Dora, an older woman whose self-imposed sheltered life has been long shut-off from the yearnings and longings that make us human, and Josue, a young boy who forces her to confront her detachment as such, move the viewer from a jolting start to a warm, satisfying ending.

This is a film I never get tired of. The performances are great; the musical score is subtle, yet significant; the people and places are compelling; and the story, although perhaps somewhat manipulative, is overall enjoyable.

Some reviewers have side-stepped the warmth of this movie in attacking it as pretentious, cliche, and overtly sentimental. Although these are valid arguments, I felt that overall these points are forgiveable and easy to overlook.
"

Brazilian's Greatest Female Actress at her Peak

Nandinha | NANDinha, PORTUGAL | 10/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a film of contrasts. From Rio de Janeiro's Metropolis-like urban hell to Brasil's Nordeste - a barren place of barren and huge landscapes and unmittigated Faith.
Dora's character, played by sublime actress Fernanda Montenegro (Oscar nominated and certainly worthy of winning...) evolves from an urban Rio de Janeiro's letter writer-devil'll do all to a mother figure to street kid Josué after his own mother dies.
After that this is a spiritual road movie - for Josué's long lost father - and for Dora's long lost faith in herself and in other human beings - which she eventually achieves most purely in Josués character.
This is a powerful movie. Christianly so. Any religion-so. But mostly a movie about trust in the residual bits of humanity that allow those in near-despair to believe. Maybe not in God as such - but in christian individuals as such...
So is this a religious movie? Not exactly. And not at all a Catholic one.
But it is a delightful innocent mix-up of beliefs, with a kind of untainted christianism standing out."

Definitely one of the best films I've seen !

M. Alvarez | 07/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though I would have loved for this DVD to include a soundtrack or subtitles in Spanish, I believe "Central do Brasil" deserves to be bought in any language or format available. It is amazing to watch a movie with such an ability to provoke scarcely experienced emotions while it offers a beautifully depicted portrait of Brazil, its culture, people and landscape, all entwined with a touching story delivered to us through a masterful combination of actors and non-actors. Fernanda Montenegro gained a lot of recognition with her portrayal of Dora, and she deserved it. It is a pity they didn't award her the Oscar. Her young counterpart in the film, Vinicius de Oliveira, was also outstanding and very convincing. I keep this film in a preferred position among the best films I've ever seen."