Poor Kid has it pretty rough. Not only does he live on a desolate, Brazilian sugar cane farm, toiling the days with his family to make a few pitiful bucks, but his family's in a years-old feud with the farm down the road... and one by one all of his relatives have been shot as part of the circle of violence. And the kid doesn't even have a name.

Admittedly, Behind the Sun goes to extreme lengths to make you feel sorry for Kid (Ravi Ramos Lacerda) and his brother Tonio (Rodrigo Santoro), the sole survivors of their generation. But their story is heartfelt and compassionate, and despite the melodramatic plot surrounding them, Behind the Sun is a fascinating tale.

This look at turn-of-the-century Brazil is something I've never seen in cinema, but the movie succeeds on its heart. The kid's conversations with his brother about the world, Tonio's pursuit of a travelling circus girl -- possibly his only shot at happiness, considering he's marked for assassination within the month, and the lessons of living a go-nowhere life in a dying industry are all poignant and touching. And in 90 short minutes, Behind the Sun packs a lot of punch in its simple frame.

Acting and story aside, the direction is capable and the filmmaking is innovative. While the ending is on the obvious side and the love story is a bit thin, this acclaimed movie really earns its accolades.

Aka Abril Despedaçado.



Swinging from a sun.