Award-winning Brazilian director Walles Sales (The Motorcycle Diaries) ventures into the slums of Sao Paulo for this poignant tale of a family coming apart at the seams, co-directed by Daniela Thomas.
Taking its title from the offside rule in football, as well as a popular children's game of knockabout, Linha De Passe explores the shattered hopes and dreams of four brothers without a father figure.
Single mother Cleuza (Sandra Corveloni), a pre
gnant housemaid in danger of losing her job, struggles to keep control of her boys, especially the youngest, Reginaldo (de Jesus Santos), who is obsessed with tracking down his biological father.
Eldest child Denis (Joao Baldasserini) is contemplating a life of crime to ensure he can pay child support.
Dinho (Jose Geraldo Rodrigues) works at a gas station and seeks absolution at the local evangelical church, while talented footballer Dario (Vinicius de Oliveira) lies about his age to secure a try-out for the youth squad. Having falsified his identity card, Dario must impress a visiting scout to guarantee first-team play. "If you tip him, it's a done deal," advises the coach. "Three thousand: take it or leave it."
Partly improvised and cast predominantly with non-actors, Linha De Passe is an authentic and gritty portrait of life in the favelas for a group of young men who have been dealt poor hands their entire life.
Compelling performances from the leads, especially the eminently watchable Corveloni, propel the film towards its surprisingly life-affirming conclusion, juxtaposing heartbreaking failure for one sibling with glory for another.
On limited release
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