Foreign language films have a way of surprising you with great stories that can stand in comparison with some of the good domestic movies we have here in the U.S. From City Light Pictures and Producer Fernando Meirelles (City of God, The Constant Gardner), and Writer/Director Cao Hamburger comes a Brazilian movie that’s worthy of our attention. THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION is a heartwarming drama about the meaning of family, friendship and being there for those you care about.
Plus, it also has a cute crush between two kids. And the bonus point, archive footage of the 1970 World Cup featuring Brazil as the Champion. Watching images of Pele and his gang do their magic is a reward in itself.
In 1970 Brazil and the world seemed to have been turned upside-down, but the biggest worry in young 12
year-old Mauro’s mind had little or nothing to do with the proliferation of military dictatorships in South
America or with the Vietnam war. His biggest dream was to see Brazil become the three-time winner of
the World Cup. Mauro is at a stage in life when one moves from childhood into adolescence. He is forced to live without
his parents, left-wing militants forced underground. They leave him with his grandfather. But something
unexpected has happened to his grandfather and Mauro is left alone without being able to inform his
parents. Shlomo, his grandfather’s next-door neighbor, a solitary Jewish man and employee of the local
synagogue, winds up taking care of him.
The unexpected cohabitation results in a plunge into unknown
worlds, from which they emerge more mature than before.
While he waits for a call from his parents, Mauro learns to face a very often harsh and painful reality. He
finds himself alone and repeats the saga of his grandparents – Jewish immigrants – surviving in a new
world. Mauro encounters a gallery of colorful characters including Hanna, an irreverent tom boy and
street savvy girl, with an enormous talent for making bets and business deals; the pretty waitress Irene,
who sparks the imagination of all the kids from the block; the Rabbi, a fan of the Corinthian soccer team;
the Brazilian Italian man Ítalo who is involved in student demonstrations, and Edgar, the mulatto goalie
of the local soccer team. With his new friends, Mauro shares his passion for soccer, his first sexual
discoveries and his desire to regain the happiness suffocated by the dictatorship.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Price: Starting at $13.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital – Spanish
Subtitles – English, Spanish – Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary – 1. Director 2. Producer
Featurette – INSIDE THE MOVIE
Outtakes
Text/ Photo Gallery:
Stills
