Saturday, March 29, 2008

THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION




Original title: O Ano em Que Meus Pais Sairam de Férias
In Portuguese, Yiddish and German with English subtitles.

BACKGROUND
The República Federativa do Brasil is the fifth-largest country in the world by geographical area. The official language is Portuguese. Catholicism is the predominant religion. Republican democracy ended on April 1, 1964 with a successful military coup d’état. Anti-government manifestations particularily left-wing resulted in brutal repressive measures. Return to a democratic constitution officially began with the inauguration of a President on March 15, 1985.

In politics the left refers to those who advocate social equality as a political end. In the Western World the term left-wing is most often associated with social democracy. In other parts of the world including Brazil it takes the form of Communism or anti-imperialism.

The most prestigious international football competition is the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup held every four years. This event is the most widely viewed in the world with an audience twice that of the summer Olympic Games. This football competition is known as soccer in some countries and in 1970 was the first ever held outside South America and Europe. Mexico hosted it. The Brazilian team featured the likes of Pelé, Carlos Alberto, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostão. Together they are regarded as the greatest attacking World Cup team ever.

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil with a population in excess of 10 million people. As in all of Brazil, people of different religions and cultures mix with each other producing a multi-ethnic society. Today, people of 100 different ethnicities make the city their home. The Bom Retiro borough is typical comprising both a large Jewish and active Italian community.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Michel Joelsas: 12-year-old Mauro
Eduardo Moreira: his Jewish father Daniel
Simone Spoladore: his Catholic mother Bia
Paulo Autran: Mauro’s grandfather Mótel, a barber
Germano Haiut: Schlomo, the grandfather's elderly next-door neighbour
Daniela Piepszyk: a young girl (11-year-old?) Hanna, the upstairs neighbour
Liliana Castro: Irene, a pretty waitress
Caio Blat: her boyfriend Ítalo, a politically active university student

REVIEW
Low-budget movies have their place amidst the mainstream offerings. Often set in foreign countries they provide a window to another way of life and offer a different perspective on the world as we see it. When combined with a touching story and some really fine performances this kind of movie makes for a pleasant diversion.

However it could benefit from some editing with too much of Mauro just hanging out in his grandfather’s apartment. There are other ways to convey the passage to time without subjecting the audience to lengthy expositions.

CLASSIFICATION
for thematic material, mild language, brief suggestive content, some violence and smoking.

P.S.
Goy:
Hebrew and Yiddish term for a non-Jewish person; synonymous with "gentile." Usually neutral, despite persistent untrue rumors that it is derogatory.

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