Central Station (1998)
"Central do Brasil" (original title)

An emotive journey of a former school teacher, who write letters for illiterate people, and a young boy, whose mother has just died, in search for the father he never knew.

Director:

Walter Salles

Writers:

Marcos Bernstein, João Emanuel Carneiro,

Stars:

Fernanda Montenegro, Marília Pêra, Vinícius de Oliveira

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 34 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fernanda Montenegro	...	Isadora
Marília Pêra	...	Irene
Vinícius de Oliveira	...	Josué
Soia Lira	...	Ana
Othon Bastos	...	Cezar
Otávio Augusto	...	Pedrão
Stela Freitas	...	Yolanda
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Isaías
Caio Junqueira	...	Moisés
Socorro Nobre	...	Dora's Client
Manoel Gomes	...	Dora's Client
Roberto Andrade	...	Dora's Client
Sheyla Kenia	...	Dora's Client
Malcon Soares	...	Dora's Client
Maria Fernandes	...	Dora's Client

Storyline

Dora, a dour old woman, works at a Rio de Janeiro central station, writing letters for customers and mailing them. She hates customers and calls them 'trash'. Josue is a 9-year-old boy who never met his father. His mother is sending letters to his father through Dora. When she dies in a car accident, Dora takes Josue and takes a trip with him to find his father.

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Plot Keywords:

letter | teacher | brazil | wine | on the road | 

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Taglines:

The motion picture for people who want to feel that they have shared a very special emotional experience... instead of just another night out at the movies!

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

Brazil France

Language:

Portuguese German

Release Date:

20 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Central Station

Filming Locations:

Arcoverde, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

Box Office

Budget:

$2,900,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£84,170 (UK) (12 March 1999)

Gross:

$5,595,428 (USA) (9 July 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Audiovisual Development Bureau, Ministerio da Cultura, BEI Comunicações, Bahiatursa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Central do Brasil is the name of Rio de Janeiro's Central Station.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dora's Client: [dictating a letter] My darling, My heart belongs to you. No matter what you've done, I still love you. I love you. While you're locked in there all those years, I'll be locked up out here, waiting for you.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Message in a Bottle/My Favorite Martian/Children of Heaven/Blast from the Past/God Said, 'Ha!' (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Preciso me encontrar"
Written by Candeia
Performed by Cartola

User Reviews

The most extraordinary movie of 1998

This movie is special.It shows the real Brasil with a simple but beautiful and touching story about a little boy looking for the father he never knew and a woman looking for a second chance. The performers are brilliant! Fernanda Montenegro is extraordinary in the role of Dora.The chemistry between the main characters (Dora and Josué) is splendid. The film photography is wonderful, so as the instrumental soundtrack. Central do Brasil(Central Station) is one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Be ready to weep and be happy!