Central Station (Central do Brasil) (1998)
96%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
43 wins & 26 nominations total
Walter Salles’ Central Station is a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends the beauty of Brazil’s landscapes with the harsh realities of its people. The film’s imagery is hauntingly beautiful, and Salles’ direction is watchful, penetrating the depths of each character encountered on Dora and Josue’s journey. Fernanda Montengero’s stunning performance elevates the film above the familiar neo-realist type of melodrama, and the mismatched couple’s bond is textured and gritty. While some may find the pairing of an adorable young boy and a selfish, honesty-challenged older woman manipulative, it takes time to discover the pure soul beneath. Central Station is a film of uncommon simplicity and complexity, a true gem of Brazilian cinema.
Central Station is a movie that will make you feel all the emotions. It’s beautiful, haunting, and gritty all at the same time. The story follows a young boy and an older woman who are mismatched but end up bonding on a road trip. The visuals are stunning, and the performances are top-notch. It’s not your typical melodrama, and that’s what makes it stand out. Plus, who doesn’t love a good road trip movie? Hop on board and enjoy the ride with Central Station.
Production Company(ies)
Audiovisual Development Bureau, Ministerio da Cultura BEI Comunicações Bahiatursa
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Central do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 50m
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Language(s):Portuguese, German
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Country of origin:Brazil, France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 13, 1999
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Central Station, drama, Portuguese (Brazil), Walter Salles, Marcos Bernstein, João Emanuel Carneiro, starring Fernanda Montenegro, Vinícius de Oliveira, Marília Pêra, Soia Lira, Othon Bastos, Otávio Augusto, directed by Walter Salles, written by Walter Salles, Marcos Bernstein, João Emanuel Carneiro, box office gross $6.2M, Sony Pictures Classics, reviewed by Kevin Thomas, Richard Schickel, Peter Brunette, Susan Stark, Janet Maslin, Lucy Mohl, Emanuel Levy, Susan Tavernetti, Philip Martin, Jeffrey Westhoff, Marty Mapes, Bitter former schoolteacher, illiterate people, Rio de Janeiro, road trip, moving, universal, manipulative, adorable young boy, selfish, honesty-challenged older woman, stylized visual style, stunning performance, road movie, uncommon texture, grit, mismatched couple, defensive, guarded, bond, sorrow, uncertain journey, sophisticated cinematography, lush musical score, metaphor-rich, heavy, powerful, dramatic story, commentary, religiosity, idolatry, pilgrimage scene
Worldwide gross: $5,971,073
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,957,761
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,943
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,194,958
US/Canada gross: $5,969,553
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,954,971
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,591
US/Canada opening weekend: $35,708
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $65,529
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,105
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,900,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,321,909
Production budget ranking: 1,868
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,865,848
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,770,004
ROI to date (est.): 34%
ROI ranking: 1,227
Marília Pêra – Irene
Vinícius de Oliveira – Josué
Soia Lira – Ana
Othon Bastos – Cesar
Otávio Augusto – Pedrão
Director(s)
Walter Salles
Writer(s)
Walter Salles, Marcos Bernstein, João Emanuel Carneiro
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
43 wins & 26 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (3)
As beautiful as it is wrenching.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
[Salles’] imagery, like his storytelling, is clear, often unaffectedly lovely, and quietly, powerfully haunting.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4.5/5
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
its blatantly manipulative pairing of an adorable young boy and a selfish, honesty-challenged older woman … so calculating that I could never get emotionally involved.
January 1, 2000
Peter Brunette
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Salles directs simply and watchfully, with an eye that seems to penetrate all the characters who are encountered on Dora’s and Josue’s journey.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
What gives the film its strength is that cutting away the first layer only reveals more levels of toughness; it takes time to discover the pure soul beneath.
January 1, 2000
Lucy Mohl
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 9, 2010 | Rating: B+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly
…a road movie of uncommon texture and grit during which the mismatched couple, each initially defensive and guarded, bond with each other.
January 23, 2003 | Rating: B
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
September 3, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
August 21, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
‘Central do Brasil’ tem a simplicidade dos grandes filmes.
May 31, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena…
Plot
Dora, a dour old woman who hates customers and calls them ‘trash,’ works at a Rio de Janeiro central station writing and mailing letters for customers. Josue is a 9-year-old boy who never met his father. His mother is sending letters to his father through Dora. When she dies in a car accident, Dora takes Josue on a trip to find his father.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing goofy, funny, or odd is mentioned about the film or anyone in the cast.
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