The runaway sisters Darlene (Chaiendi Santos) and Daiane (Flaviana da Silva) leave her abusive mother Elza that forces them to solicit alms. They walk from the countryside to Salvador where they witness the murder of a homeless kid during the night. On the next morning, they meet the amnesic Diomedes (Inaldo Santana) being robbed by the urchin Piolho and his gang in a square. They help the old man and Darlene uses her young sister and Diomedes to beg on the streets of Salvador. When Diomedes in a glimpse of recollection takes a train to the house of his son, the girls meet his family and friends.
"Esses Moços" is a disappointing film, with a shallow, pointless and messy screenplay that goes nowhere. Like a machine gun, the plot shows many problems of the Brazilian society: the slaughter of homeless people; abandoned children begging and living on the streets; lack of respect with the elders; juvenile gangs of urchins attacking people; prostitution of children. Salvador seems to be no man's land, without police on the streets or any social concerns with homeless children. Unfortunately the approach is terrible, and the development of the characters and situations are awful: the confused lead character Diomedes seems to be sclerotic with insane attitudes; the annoying Darlene is totally dislikable; there is no explanation for the attitudes of Diomedes; the slaughter in the beginning of the story is senseless. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "Esses Moços" ("These Youngsters")
