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Fernanda Montenegro, Marilia Pera, Vinícius de Oliveira, Soia Lira, Othon Bastos ... see more see more... , Otávio Augusto , Stela Freitas , Matheus Nachtergaele , Caio Junqueira , Antonella Rendina

Former documentary filmmaker Walter Salles (Foreign Land) directed this Brazilian-French road movie tracing the travels and travails of a young boy and an aging woman across the Brazilian landscape. I... read more read more...n Rio de Janeiro's central railroad station, callous Dora (leading Brazilian stage/screen actress Fernanda Montenegro) works at a stand where she writes letters for a parade of poor and illiterate. Some of these remain undelivered because she chooses not to mail all of the letters. One of her customers is a woman whose nine-year-old son, Josue (Vinicius de Oliveira), hopes to see the father he has never met, but after the mother dictates two letters to the father, she's killed when hit by a bus. Since Josue is left homeless, Dora reluctantly takes him home to her small apartment overlooking the railroad tracks, where she sometimes spends time with her neighbor Irene (Marilia Pera). Dora places Josue with people who claim to find adoptive parents. When Irene informs her they actually sell children who are then killed for their organs, Dora rescues Josue, and the two board a bus. After a failed attempt to abandon Josue at a roadside stop, Dora and Josue hitch a ride from a religious truck driver. Failing to locate his father, they arrive penniless at a huge rural religious convocation, where Josue suggests Dora bring her letter-writing skills back into play. The notion works, and Dora profits by writing letters to saints for the more devout among the assembled multitudes. Continuing on, they arrive at a sprawling-mass housing development -- and hopefully, a solution to the problem of a family for Josue. Young actor de Oliveira was a shoeshine boy who beat out more than 1,500 other children who auditioned or were interviewed for the Josue role. Made with grants from the Sundance Institute, NHK, and the French Ministry of Culture, this film was shown at 1998 film festivals (Sundance, Berlin). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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93% liked it

12,766 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

48 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Walter Salles Jr.

Release Date: November 20, 1998

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DVD Release Date: July 13, 1999

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Stats: 829 reviews

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Fernanda Montenegro and Vinícius de Oliveira Fernanda Montenegro and Vinícius de Oliveira Fernanda, Walter and Vinicius Central Station (Central do Brasil) Central Station (Central do Brasil) Central Station (Central do Brasil) Fernanda Montenegro and Vinícius de Oliveira Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station Fernanda Montenegro Central Station (Central do Brasil) Central Station (Central do Brasil) Central Station Central Station Central Station Central Station
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Flixster Reviews (829)

  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    Central Station is of a tale of sorrow that brought two strangers together to embark on an uncertain journey. Sophisticated cinematography and lush musical score. Metaphor-rich, heavy, moving, and very powerful that is surely to deliver a pinch in the heart.
  • rubystevens
    May 9, 2011
    rubystevens
    certainly it's a story we've seen before: cranky person saddled with kid learns compassion and reconnects with humanity. what keeps the viewer engaged is the wonderful performance of fernanda montenegro, always pulling it back from the brink of sentimentality, and the lovingly ... read morephotographed brazilian countryside
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Beautiful film about a young boy looking for his father and the woman who helps him. Brilliantly acted by Fernanda Montenegro & Vinìcius de Oliveira and beautifully shot by Salles. I cried a little bit at the end!
  • flixsterman
    June 22, 2009
    flixsterman
    I don't remember who recommended this movie to me but, whoever you are, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. :)
  • DrBenway
    January 12, 2009
    DrBenway
    The film is darker than standard road trip fare. Dora (Fernanda Montenegro) is a mean, cynical and condescending individual. She writes letters for illiterate people full of hope and dreams while she frequently mocks and discards letters soon after writing. She revels in the misf... read moreortune of others and has no time for the young boy orphaned in front of her. Dora is so unlikable even director Walter Salles' camera doesn't want to get too close. This makes his use of close-ups of Montenegro more noticeable.

    The story is small yet strong in that the two main characters are insignificant in the hustle and bustle of the world and no one would notice if they fell off the face of the earth. The hustle of Central Station contrasts with scenes of the wide-open Brazilian countryside, dusty and beautiful. The ending is a wonderful scene that puts a lump in my throat. Watch this scene, and then ask yourself what the Academy was thinking when they gave her Oscar to Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare In Love.
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  • SarahG1988
    October 27, 2007
    SarahG1988
    A thorughly enjoyable film with some fine acting, enjoyable moments, beautiful scenery and great story.

    More to follow...
  • binky013
    May 6, 2007
    binky013
    I wanted to love this movie; I did not. Not bad, with a story of human-bonding that should be perfect for the screen, but does not affect me the way I'd hoped it would. I will definitely give Fernanda Montenegro her due as far as acting in this one goes, but overall I felt rath... read moreer indifferent to the story as presented. Her character was definitely the most interesting part of the script. If I'd had input, I'd have actually dropped the orphan aspect and focused on her growth as a writer for those who cannot express their own words, their thoughts, and their feelings in print. For the English teacher still somewhere inside of me, that way much fascination lies.
  • gator681
    July 23, 2005
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Central Station" is about Dora(Fernanda Montenegro), a retired schoolteacher who works as a letter writer in the central train station of Rio de Janeiro to make ends meet. She transcribes and mails letters for illiterate people who come to her desk. In a s... read morecene that shows off how particularly loathsome she is, Dora is shown with a disapproving friend reading those same letters and occasionally either shelving them or simply throwing them out.(Does she mail any of them at all?) One of her customers, a repeat one in fact, is a young mother and nine year old boy, Josue(Vinicius De Oliveira). The mother wishes to reconcile with the boy's father; Dora has already judged the man as an alcoholic. The mother is hit and killed by a bus and the child is orphaned, leading Dora to perhaps commit the first unselfish and heroic acts of her life.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"Central Station" is a mawkish sentimental manipulative piece of drivel that telegraphs most of its punches. A strictly neo-realist approach might have worked concerning the perils of orphans living in Rio de Janeiro. But the movie even backs away from that theme once it hits the road. And these are two characters who I could have cared less about. Did I mention that it also seemed sexist, too? Well, at least, the Brazilian countryside is photographed nicely.[/font]
  • mvieaddict
    September 5, 2010
    mvieaddict
    Central Station was like a road trip movie between a woman and a child. It showed Dora's identity,which was similar to the atmosphere of Rio De Janeiro. Working as a letter writer at the Central Station, she was a cold heart person caring for her own well being. She hated her cus... read moretomers and chose not to mail the letters she wrote for them. All changed when she met Josue, a 9 year old boy, whose mother died in a tragic accident, Dora took care of Josue, and went on a journey along the countryside to find his father. They passed through series of trials throughout the movie.The ending made it emotional, because I was expecting Dora and Josue to remain friends.The story, the tone the acting,everything meld together and created a fascinating and beautiful work in its simplicity.
  • InaHH
    March 13, 2007
    InaHH
    Great piece of cinema, extremely moving story.

View All Central Station (Central do Brasil) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

As beautiful as it is wrenching. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie's success rests largely on the shoulders of Fernanda Montenegro, an actress who successfully defeats any temptation to allow sentimentality to wreck her relationship with the child. Full Review

Peter Brunette
January 1, 2000
Peter Brunette, Film.com

its blatantly manipulative pairing of an adorable young boy and a selfish, honesty-challenged older woman ... so calculating that I could never get emotionally involved.

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Salles provides a textbook example of how to toy with our emotions, how to involve and move us, without necessarily condescending to us or insulting us. Full Review

Paul Tatara
January 1, 2000
Paul Tatara, CNN.com

It'll probably work better if you're not terribly familiar with the movies that inspired it. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Salles directs simply and watchfully, with an eye that seems to penetrate all the characters who are encountered on Dora's and Josue's journey. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Central Station is both literate and emotionally-powerful -- an increasingly rare combination. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Fernanda Montenegro gives a landmark performance in the Brazilian film Central Station. Full Review

Lucy Mohl
January 1, 2000
Lucy Mohl, Film.com

What gives the film its strength is that cutting away the first layer only reveals more levels of toughness; it takes time to discover the pure soul beneath.

Richard Schickel
January 1, 2000
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

[Salles'] imagery, like his storytelling, is clear, often unaffectedly lovely, and quietly, powerfully haunting.

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