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Central Station

Now Playing 1h 50m Drama List
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 (Vinícius de Oliveira), 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

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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 Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly A richly tender and moving experience. Rated: A- 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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Audience Member One of the greatest cinematic works in history, which through an engaging narrative, a dazzling cast and a magnificent production, manages to tell a unique story, but at the same time it could be about anyone in that crowded station. The untold stories of the world's victims finally receive a more than worthy cinematic representation. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Lorenzzo A O melhor filme do cinema brasileiro!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Fabrícia F Uma história sobre amizade, dramas pessoais e conflitos. Comovente, brilhante, original. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Willian F Fernanda Montenegro’s performance is one of the film's grand highlights, delivering an acting job that aligns with the harshness and vulnerability of certain individuals, perfectly capturing this complexity with her character. The chemistry between Montenegro and the young Josué is both significant and beautiful. The script is simple yet effective, exploring the characters' journey in the most intimate way possible. The cinematography flawlessly captures the urban landscape of Rio de Janeiro and the vastness of Brazil’s interior, offering a glorious visual backdrop. Although some elements may make the film appear slightly melodramatic, the authenticity and sensitive approach to the themes ensure that Central do Brasil (Central Station), resonates deeply with the audience, a film that deserves recognition for its ability to touch hearts and represent Brazilian life and this country honestly and emotionally. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/28/24 Full Review Kauã M What can we say about one of the best Brazilian films ever produced, the mix of sensations that this film brings is impeccable, comedy, drama, perfect direction and a captivating soundtrack, this film is perfect. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/25/24 Full Review Carlos H Uma joia rara do cinema brasileiro, que nos enche de orgulho dos nossos artistas e diretores, Central do Brasil é, sem dúvida, um filme emocionante, necessário e importante - não só para o cinema nacional, como para o mundial. Não à toa foi indicado a vários prêmios importantes, tendo ganhado a maioria. Fernanda Montenegro, que está simplesmente divina aqui, mereceu a indicação ao Oscar: e deveria ter ganhado! Particularmente, acho a derrota dela uma das maiores injustiças promovidas pela Academia. O ator mirim, que interpreta o personagem Josué, é incrível, também, tal como o restante do elenco. A direção é extremamente competente, e a fotografia é incrível; ela nos leva pelas estradas do Brasil, que, em todo o caso, tornam-se um personagem importante da trama. E o que dizer daquele final? Triste e, ao mesmo tempo, um dos mais lindos e emocionantes que já assisti. Eu me apeguei tanto aos dois personagens principais que, mesmo agora, enquanto escrevo esta crítica, pego-me pensando no que aconteceu com a Dora e o Josué. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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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 (Vinícius de Oliveira), 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