Disappointment for a huge fan!

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Blistering performances.

I've watched this movie several times, because its depiction of the everyday life of working-class Brazilians fascinates me, with plenty of heartbreak and some occasional laughter. But I'm not prepared to say how realistic it is. I would ask a Brazilian for an opinion on that.I like Betty Faria a lot; she was also in "Bye Bye Brazil" and many other Brazilian films, and she's very funny when she wants to be. Brandao Filho is also very charming as the old man that Fausta connects with. But, boy, Bruno Barreto sure knows how to make a depressing movie.Ruben Blades did the music on the soundtrack--Lord knows why. It's good but it didn't seem very Brazilian to me.