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I'm grateful to finally find a film that is sensitive, subtle, original in its view of people and has something to say (about faith and the church, society and outsiders.) It's Italian, but only two characters act like the Italian angry prototype, and only briefly. The acting is extraordinary. Yle Vianello, who plays the thirteen years old girl, seems as authentic as it gets. It is her story-after ten years in Switzerland, she returns to a small town in Italy with her single mother and 18-year-old sister. Right away she's called to participate in the endless studies for the communion at church. She tries to fit in, but is swept by other types of emotional and spiritual searches.

I wonder what non Brazilian would think. Here this film became a political manifestation, and people forget to simply watch it. The story is simple: a 65-year-old widow, a retired journalist, declines a good offer to leave her apartment (the last occupied one) in an old building near the beach in Recife. The bad guys would do everything to expel her.

She lives well, goes to the beach, meets friends, and enjoys music and beauty. She is lonely, but strong, well-off and resilient. The threat is looming, however. The most interesting stuff is her relationships, and there's one powerful reference to breast cancer. The beginning is quite weak, but fortunately, the film quickly skips many years to the present. There are mentions of endless issues: class , race, gender, prejudice, sexuality, generation gap, capitalism, corruption and what not.

Some references are very odd, and if I didn't get them, people out of Brazil will never understand. For instance, a brief scene of someone digging bones from a grave. The ending is simplistic. However, between the beginning and the ending, and ignoring some loose ends, the middle has much good stuff. Sonia Braga who plays the widow is good. The best actor is probably Humberto Carrão who plays a rich young man out to conquer the construction world.

Also: great music!

The director, staff, cast and all made a manifestation against the impeachment of the Brazilian president in Cannes Festival. So now the left endorses the film and the right abhors it. Me? I liked it for the several strong moments, and was sorry it had too many weak ones. It stayed with me as day later, so it's not bad.

Julie Gavras, the director, is a power house judging by this film. She wrote the script, based on a novel by Domitilla Calamai, and directed what seems like an honest film with depth. Anna de la Mesa is a young girl, a daughter to wealthy parents and grandparents, whose parents become communists and politically active in the 70's. They move from a large house to a small flat, always full with activists, and all the princess-like reality is shattered. The girl, serious, competitive and intense resists the changes with all her might, but slowly, certain people and certain stories reach her, and she softens. Her little brother is captivating-funny, sweet and smart, and there's a brief moment where you see how she crosses the line to finally seeing him. I loved the little actress. Something else I loved-how the relationships with the parents are not embellished but appear in all their errors, rough edges and tenderness. The director is Costa Gavras's daughter, and the mother is played by Julie Depardieu-Gerard's daughter.