De Passagem

This is yet another film about desperate youth in the poor suburbs of big metropolis. Not to mention, that it's a Brazilian film on the subject, a theme which is only as prevalent as misery in the Northeast Region, as the recurrent theme in Brazilian cinema.

However, the excellent acting and brilliant direction sets this one apart. The story is not groundbreaking. Three youths from the miserably poor suburbs of the biggest metropolis in South America (and the Southern Hemisphere) struggle desperately to defy their probable fate.

The banality of the plot notwithstanding, the feature recently won the Audience Award at the Sao Paulo Film Festival, in the city where it takes place, with a population so saturated with this type of film, which personally witnesses similar dramas in every day life. This speaks volumes for the movie.

The film also won the Best picture, director and screenplay awards at the Gramado Festival (the benchmark of the Brazilian film industry) in August 2003, validating critical and film industry acclaim, in addition to its proven popular appeal.

Nevertheless, outside Brazil, the film will really appeal to fans of this depressing, realistic, violent genre - all too frequent in world cinema these days. (...now years, decades even)