My Rating: 3.92/4 (aka Must watch)

One line summary: A beautifully painful and true story of a family in 1970s Brazil.

The Deets: This is a deep, textured, warm, sad, musical, lyrical, soulful movie. And you should see it. As I write this a few hours before the Oscars are broadcast, the lead actress and pillar of this film, Fernanda Torres, is nominated for best actress (and though she’s a long shot to win, she probably should). Torres is the mother of five, as her family grapples with the rise of government dictatorial rule. We endure the pain and fortitude with her, and we can feel the weight of carrying her family, filled with deep uncertainty, fear, and courage. This is a movie that demands you to see it – director Walter Salles loves the movies and he shows us the camera filming this family as a way to portray and preserve them. He also loves the music of the age as a way to align with the era. But he is also true to his subject, and he carries us from the beaches of Rio to the present, intent to tell the whole story, knowing that finality is important.

Perfect for: If you’ve enjoyed Brazilian movies, and if you’re in the mood for a deep family drama with a riveting lead performance.

Where to watch: For now it’s only in theaters, and with the lyrical camerawork and needle-drop soundtrack, it’s definitely worth it.

Food pairing: A soufflé, if you can make one.