The Year My Parents Went On Vacation-O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias (2007)

Directed by: Cao Hamburger | 105 minutes | drama | Actors: Michel Joelsas, Daniela Piepszyk, Germano Haiut, Simone Spoladore, Caio Blat, Eduardo Moreira, Liliana Castro, Rodrigo dos Santos, Paulo Autran

Delicate, modest, warm and moving. Those are the words with which the film can be characterized. A beautiful piece of drama that also has many humorous parts. The story is set in the Jewish community in Sao Paulo where the young Mauro ends up. It’s 1970 and the World Cup begins. The whole country is turned upside down because of this, Brazil can become World Champion for the third time. There is also a lot going on politically. Mauro’s parents are left-wing activists and have to flee the military dictatorship that was in power from 1964 to 1985.

The title suggests that Mauro’s parents went on vacation, but that’s just the story they tell the boy. The reality is dramatically different. They have to flee in haste and take their son to his grandfather. On the way they make a phone call with Grandpa. They are under great pressure and can just leave him on the steps of the grandfather’s house. His parents have promised on the way back from their ‘vacation’ to watch the World Cup football matches. Father Daniel is of Jewish descent, but does not change his faith. Grandfather Motel, however, died unexpectedly a few hours before Mauro’s arrival. He is a hairdresser and almost cuts a customer’s throat during his heart attack. An old Jewish neighbor, Shlomo, reluctantly takes care of him temporarily when he is all alone waiting at the door of Grandpa’s apartment.

Mauro can no longer inform his parents, because he does not know where they are staying. He was not told that for security reasons. A wonderfully sketched story then develops, in which the world around him is looked at primarily through the eyes of the young Mauro. Due to all the events around him, he is about to leave his early childhood in an accelerated manner. That emotional world is beautifully portrayed. The neighborhood’s quaint Jewish and Italian communities are humorously entwined in the developments. Entertaining discussions ensue within the Yiddish-speaking Jewish community. The rabbi draws parallels with the journey of Moses through the desert, the child on your doorstep can be regarded as a Gift from God. A special duty of care is therefore required. The old bachelor Shlomo warmly takes on this care. The roles of the old Shlomo (Germano Haiut) and the young Mauro (Michel Joelsas) are subdued, moving and convincing.

Mauro is constantly trying to find out why his parents don’t call, the reason is obvious to everyone except Mauro. This political situation is clearly included in the film and gives an extra dimension to the film, so that it is not just another story of old man and child.

‘The Year My Parents Went on Vacation’ is certainly not a gloomy drama, the story has a lot of humor and is full of surprising developments. The young, precocious girl next door Hanna (a strong portrayal of Daniela Piepszyk) befriends Mauro. She quickly teaches him the tricks and mores of life in the neighborhood. Hanna has a lucrative business where she lets curious boys look through holes in the wall at ladies trying on clothes.

Mauro becomes enamored with the beautiful Irene, who works in a bar, but she is obviously much too old for him and is mothering him a bit. He can always watch the football with her. The story ingeniously intertwines tangents with the World Cup and the military dictatorship.

The screenplay has a good balance, all the actors perform their roles with verve and the storyline is believable and convincing. The emotional world of the children in this film is penetratingly brought to life, but the roles of the other players are just as well fulfilled. At the end of the film, an inevitable tragedy appears to have occurred. Yet the film is by no means dramatic, the entire tone is warm, light and humorous, with an undertone of tragedy.

In recent years, not many films have reached us from Brazil. ‘The Year My Parents Went on Vacation’ makes up for that in one go. Emotional film, strong screenplay. Atmospheric, with magnificent play. A laugh and a tear, but without any melodrama. A real pearl from Brazil. Sublime, highly recommended.