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Central Station

Play trailer Poster for Central Station Released Nov 20, 1998 1h 50m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Bitter former schoolteacher Dora (Fernanda Montenegro) supports herself by taking dictation from illiterate people in Rio de Janeiro who want to write letters to their families and then pocketing their money without ever mailing the envelopes. One day, Josue (Marília Pêra), the 9-year-old son of one of her clients, is left alone when his mother is killed in a bus accident. Reluctantly taking him in, Dora joins the boy on a road trip to find his long-missing father.

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Central Station

Central Station

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Critics Consensus

Director Salles transcends road-movie clichés and crafts a film that is as moving as it is universal.

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Critics Reviews

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Globe and Mail Rated: 4/4 Mar 19, 2002 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times As beautiful as it is wrenching. Rated: 4.5/5 Feb 14, 2001 Full Review Susan Stark Detroit News Rated: 4/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Aaron Homem PopMatters Central Station highlights the masses’ resilience while romanticizing their economic condition and environment. Jan 27, 2023 Full Review Phoebe Flowers Miami Herald A masterpiece of sincere emotion. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 5, 2023 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com What separates and elevates Walter Salles' film above the familiar neo-realist type of melodrama is the stylized visual style and Fernanda Montengero's stunning performance. Rated: B+ Aug 9, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tani B One of the best films I've seen in years. Deeply moving, incredible acting and leaves you wondering what happened to everyone. Maybe because I saw it shortly after my mum passed away, but I cried like a baby in certain scenes. I fell in love with the people and it almost felt like a documentary so realistic. Just loved it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/05/25 Full Review Paula L An extraordinary film, rich in storytelling and emotion. Fernanda Montenegro delivers a tour de force in acting—her sincerity is stunning, making every moment feel raw and real. The emotions this film evokes are unmatched, drawing the audience into a deeply human journey. Central Station offers a respectful and poignant portrayal of the struggles, hopes, and searches of the Brazilian people, capturing their resilience with profound sensitivity. A truly unforgettable film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/25 Full Review Anilorak I If you like cinema, this film is a must. Today, I must have seen Central Station more than thirty times. I have never thought it was bad. Perhaps this film was my first encounter with the reality of my country, or part of it. As well as the reality of the various personalities that exist during our journeys. Well, I remember watching it once and getting really angry with the character Dora, played by Fernanda Montenegro, because I wanted to receive all the affection and love that she seemed to hold back from me and the boy. In the end, I feel very similar to this character and the story has a sensitivity that deserves history. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/25 Full Review Nayara d Eu era criança quando essa linda pérola foi lançada. Ainda me lembro da sensação de deslumbre frente a algo tão bonito feito pelas mãos humanas. Lembro ainda do orgulho de saber que aquilo fora feito por pessoas do meu paaís. Direção, elenco, roteiro, trilha sonora..., tudo em perfeita sintonia para falar de um Brasil profundo, complexo, nuançado, que sorri, que sofre, que luta, que erra e que acerta. Fernanda Montenegro é simplesmente o maior ícone da nossa dramaturgia, e esse filme foi apenas a consagração de sua grande história no mundo das artes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/25 Full Review Breno B The relationship that the two build throughout the film is simply beautiful, the actors manage to have such great chemistry together that I always want to see more of Dora with boy Josué. Walter Salles, thank you for directing and writing a beautiful film. Fernanda Montenegro, thank you for giving us an incredible performance because at the beginning of the film we wanted to teach you a moral lesson but in the end we just want to hug you. To the child actor, what a fabulous child who manages to be equal alongside the Brazilian legend Fernanda Montenegro, at the end of the film I wanted to cherish him too. A beautiful cohesive film full of feelings, anger, joy and melancholy, not to mention the many laughs we get when we see this duo together. Unfortunately, he was not recognized as he deserved at the Oscars, neither for film nor for actress. But in the hearts of the public, he will always be the winner of any award he competed for! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/25 Full Review Audience Member One of the best movies i ever saw. Fernanda Montenegro powerful work. A true Brasilian/Latin America story Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Central Station

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Movie Info

Synopsis Bitter former schoolteacher Dora (Fernanda Montenegro) supports herself by taking dictation from illiterate people in Rio de Janeiro who want to write letters to their families and then pocketing their money without ever mailing the envelopes. One day, Josue (Marília Pêra), the 9-year-old son of one of her clients, is left alone when his mother is killed in a bus accident. Reluctantly taking him in, Dora joins the boy on a road trip to find his long-missing father.
Director
Walter Salles
Producer
Walter Salles, Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Robert Redford, Arthur Cohn
Screenwriter
Walter Salles, Marcos Bernstein, João Emanuel Carneiro
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
MACT Productions, Buena Vista International, Canal+, Videofilmes, RioFilme, Europa Filmes
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.2M
Runtime
1h 50m
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