Switzerland / Jan 16, 1998 / French speaking region
Between hope and solitude, two lives cross and reinvent themselves
1h 51min
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
An emotional journey of a former school teacher, who writes letters for illiterate people, and a young boy, whose mother has just died, as they search for the father he never knew.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Stela Freitas | Yolanda |
| Maria Menezes | Waitress |
| Sergio Kato | Dora's Client |
| Soia Lira | Ana Fontenele |
| Rita Assemany | Jessé's Wife |
| Harildo Déda | Bené |
| Gildásio Leite | Man on the bus |
| Nanego Lira | Nordeste preacher |
| José Pereira da Silva | Dora's Client |
| Everaldo Pontes | Dora's Client |
| Inaldo Santana | Dora's Client |
| Gideon Rosa | Jessé |
| Antonieta Noronha | Violeta |
| Socorro Nobre | Dora's Client |
| Iami Rebouças | Woman in the photograph |
Genres
Drama
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Central do Brasil |
| Original language | Português (PT) |
| Spoken languages | Português |
| Production countries | Brazil, France |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | MACT Productions, VideoFilmes, RioFilme |
| Release date | 3 aprile 1998 |
| Executive producer | Thomas Garvin, Elisa Tolomelli, Donald Ranvaud, Lillian Birnbaum |
| Production | Arthur Cohn, Afonso Coaracy, Jack Gajos, Paulo Carlos De Brito, Martine De Clermont-Tonnerre, Walter Salles |
| Writer | Walter Salles, João Emanuel Carneiro, Marcos Bernstein |
| Casting | Sérgio Machado |
| Editing | Isabelle Rathery, Felipe Lacerda, Yvan Lucas |
| Cinematography | Walter Carvalho, Marcelo Brasil |
| Assistant directors | Kátia Lund, Sérgio Machado, João Emanuel Carneiro, Vinicius Coimbra, Walter Salles |
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| Lighting | Júnior Malta |
| Camera operators | Walter Carvalho, Marcelo Brasil |
| Additional photography | Walter Carvalho, Marcelo Brasil |
| Production design | Cassio Amarante, Carla Caffé, Marcelo Larrea, Mônica Costa |
| Art direction | Cassio Amarante, Carla Caffé, Marcelo Larrea, Mônica Costa |
| Set decoration | Cassio Amarante, Carla Caffé, Marcelo Larrea, Mônica Costa |
| Special effects | Mauricio Couto Bevilaqua |
| Visual effects | Mauricio Couto Bevilaqua |
| Music | Antonio Pinto, Jaques Morelenbaum, Bruno Tarrière, Jean-Claude Brisson, Mark A. Van Der Willigen, François Groult, Zezé di Camargo, Luciano Camargo |
| Sound | Antonio Pinto, Bruno Tarrière, Jean-Claude Brisson, Jaques Morelenbaum, Mark A. Van Der Willigen, François Groult, Zezé di Camargo, Luciano Camargo |
| Costume design | Cristina Camargo, Antoine Garabedian |
| Makeup | Antoine Garabedian, Cristina Camargo |
| Hairstyling | Cristina Camargo, Antoine Garabedian |
| Budget | 2.900.000 € |
| Revenue | 5.596.708 € |
Release dates
Premiere
United States / Jan 19, 1998 / Sundance Film Festival
Germany / Feb 14, 1998 / 6 / Berlin International Film Festival
Canada / Sep 10, 1998 / Vancouver International Film Festival
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North Macedonia / Sep 23, 1998 / Brothers Manaki International Film Festival
Theatrical release
Brazil / Apr 03, 1998 / L / Riofilme mj.gov.br
United States / Nov 20, 1998
France / Dec 02, 1998
South Korea / Feb 27, 1999 / 12
Show more (5)Show less
Netherlands / Mar 11, 1999 / 12
Taiwan / Mar 13, 1999
Czechia / May 13, 1999 / U
Portugal / May 14, 1999 / M/12
Ireland / Aug 15, 2025 / 15A / 4K Re-release
Digital
France / Mar 01, 2020 / VOD
Brazil / Jun 19, 2024
Physical media
France / Nov 05, 1999 / DVD
Netherlands / Jan 21, 2002 / 12 / DVD
Brazil / Sep 09, 2005 / 12 / Videofilmes mj.gov.br
TV
Netherlands / Mar 01, 2003 / 12 / Nederland 3
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