Entre Idas e Vindas

I was delighted and surprised with this movie. Beautifully shot in different parts of Brazil and the actors did such a great job. A mix of love stories with a touch of comedy. Great taste in picking the songs. Not a typical South American movie but a very todays' blend with the help of cell phones in the middle of nowhere to solve a broken parent's relationship; and the hope and vision of a young couple's insecure wedding plan.

It's like the high ways and main roads in Brasil, life just doesn't pass in such a fast pace as in many other countries. People take the time to actually feel, think, talk, party, eat, drink and share emotions. This movies tells a beautiful story of strangers meeting each other and because of how life turns to roll out they become connected in all kind of ways. The cinematography, the acting, the story, the music and sounds are all poetically built up to a plot that gives me a nice (movie quote:) "crocodile feeling" inside.

Is this movie the best I have seen? Certainly not! But it's that feeling of a certain saudade feeling but in a happy, warm, fuzzy kind of way that is brought to you with the tail of "life happens, but it will just always sort of turn out alright" what makes this movie so special to me. I feel connected to this world of people and feelings and surroundings and culture that I don't belong to as I was born to a Dutch family in The Netherlands. I don't know what it is, but I feel saudades when I think of my disconnection with my world and the connection I do feel with Brasil and it's people (been there for a month, amongst others, but especially with one of my dearest Brazilian friend). This movie brings the same feeling to me. I loved that.

Enjoyed this movie on an airplane flight, and it's indeed a good flick for a flight. There are several elements going on in this movie, but it's not complex either: the relationship of a single father with his growing son, the relationships of four female co-workers, the pending marriage of one of the co-workers, and various love stories past and present. The scenery (the coast of São Paulo) is delightful and the movie maintains a light but never frivolous tone. The cast is excellent, across the board, from the young 11 year old boy, to his father, to the four female telemarketers. A quite enjoyable though not life changing movie.