Filmmaker Cao Hamburger's The Year My Parents Went on Vacation—set in politically repressive Brazil, circa 1970—kicks off when activists Daniel and Bia Stein go into hiding, quickly dropping off their son Mauro (Michel Joelsas) to stay with his grandfather in San Paulo's Jewish quarter. Unfortunately, the old man has just died and the boy waits in vain outside the locked door of the apartment, until he's taken in by next-door neighbor Shlomo (Germano Haiut) and cared for by the Jewish community, which sees him as a new Moses (even though his upbringing was in no way religious). The plot trajectory from this point is familiar: Mauro and Shlomo gradually bond, and the latter endangers his own safety trying to contact friends of the boy's parents just as a serious crackdown begins. Meanwhile, Mauro strikes up a friendship with neighborhood tomboy Hanna (Daniela Piepszyk), and spends every free moment playing soccer, either in the streets or alone in “table football.” Since Brazil is a World Cup contender, the entire population periodically convenes around TV sets to cheer their favorites on (marking a quietly ironic contrast between the country's political division and its cultural unity). The Year My Parents Went on Vacation somewhat sugarcoats historical reality in favor of a message about the indomitable character of the human spirit, but it's an effective and heartwarming tale, overall. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include 16 minutes of cast and crew interviews, a 10-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, seven minutes of extended scenes and outtakes, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning film.] (F. Swietek)
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation
City Lights, 99 min., in Portuguese, Hebrew & Yiddish w/English subtitles, PG, DVD: $26.99, July 15 Volume 23, Issue 4
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation
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