Central Stationn

"Central Staion" is a Brazillian movie directed by Walter Salles.  It first take place in the actual central station mention in the title.  Isadora, the main female role, writes letters for illiterate people who pass through the station.  She ends up reading all of the letters that she wrote for people, sometimes laughing, and sometimes deciding that they are not worthy to be sent off.  She writes one letter for a little boy and his mother.  She wants her husband back, and he wants his dad back.  Isadora knows that the man they are trying to reach is an alcoholic, so she never sends he letter off.  The little boy and his mother return to tell Isadora that the letter was a bad idea and it should be destroyed.  Isadora concurs and the letter is ripped up.  After the little boy and his mother leave the station his mother is hit by a bus in a flurry of confusion.  The boy, Josué is left homeless.  Isadora sees the boy and has pity on him and convinces him to stay at her house.  Josué tells Isadora that he wants to, and will see his father some day.  She bluntly tells him that he is a drunkard and not worth his time.  He refuses to believe her.  Isador's lust for money catches up with her and she sells Josué  to what she thinks is an adoption center.  The next day her neighbor comes back to find Josué  gone and a new tv installed.  She puts the pieces together and convinces Isadora to take Josué  back because he will probably be used for human trafficking.  She goes back to the adoption center and is met with much less enthusiasm.  After escaping with Josué  they travel all through rural Brazil trying to find his father.  She looses her money and food and sometimes is at peace, but many times lashes out at Josué.  In time, she admits to Josué  that her father was a drunk and she explains how much he let her down.  They bond over this story and while walking the streets of the town they suspect his father lives in, Josué  has an epiphany.  He suggests that Isadora write letters for the local people.  They do and they make lots of money and bond even more.  They then find the house of his father, but only two men are there and not his father.  They find out that those men are his brothers and that one believes that his father will return.  Isadora sleeps over with Josué  and his brothers but leaves in the night.  Josué  runs in the street after her, and they depart in peace.

   The major theme in this movie is faith.  Faith in religion and faith in Josué  meeting his father.  No matter what Isadora said about his father, Josué believed he would meet his father.  Isadora also prayed many time throughout the movie asking for forgiveness, advice and protection.  Even church hyms would play over the radio in the movie.

     I enjoyed this movie very much.  I usually try to stay away from dramas but I really loved this movie.  I liked how they showed how tough, independent, and resilient really young kids can be.  The relationship between Isadora and Josué  was really interesting and I loved the way the movie ended.