A father desperate to improve his family's circumstances takes them on an unusual journey in this drama from Brazil. Romão (Wagner Moura) is a truck driver who has fallen on hard times; illiterate and unable to find work at a living wage, Romão and his wife, Rose (Cláudia Abreu), decide to leave the Northwestern provinces of Brazil and head east for Rio de Janeiro, which is 2,000 miles away. With no vehicle at their disposal, Romão, Rose, and their five children make the journey on bicycles. Along the way, they face physical and emotional hardship and bear witness to the many ways in which the nation they knew is changing. Romão also finds himself coming to a crossroads with his oldest son, Antônio (Ravi Ramos Lacerda), a teenager who has become openly defiant of his parents. O Caminho das Nuvens (aka The Middle of the World) was the first dramatic feature from documentary filmmaker Vincente Amorim. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
One interesting part was the father the oldest daughter and the two younger boys were hired as "Native Indian" Dancers. I can understand the father's frustration but I am not sure if it was worse than having his wife beg for money.
They supposedly started out from the The Middle of the World or also known as Mitad del Mundo which is an interesting read of itself.
But I do see this film as a triumph of human will and in this case a family that discovers themselves along the road. The oldest boy grows up and has to make it on his own.
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