André Valente

Not a brilliant movie but just an authentic and convincing story of a small boy, son of a disrupted young couple, with all the typical hostile reactions about his mother's new love relationship and a behaviour showing a mixture of love and resentment towards her, ending in a curious and somewhat moving friendship between the child and a Russian migrant worker who in a certain way replaces his estranged father. These feelings and relations are not very deeply analysed but the reactions shown are evident enough to make us understand what is behind them. The acting is rather good including the performance of the young boy who plays the role of the protagonist.

This is the film most Portuguese movie makers would like to deliver as a first feature. At times a little dull, with ex-positive dialogue, but quite often passionate and moving. Story is familiar, but turns out to be interesting to watch because of the kid's performance, as well as the simple and honest directing.

I'd give it an 8, if not for a scene where actress Rita Durao walks around her living room, stressed and insomniac, telling herself whatever the screenwriter felt wasn't clear for the public. It was actually, and that scene just came out to be a serious turn off... shame.

Ahh, the director is a cutie!! ;)