THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
What does it say?
It says, "Middle of the World Square."
- What? - "Middle of the World Square."
Is this the middle of the world?
That's what it says, "Middle of the World Square."
Cico?
Cico? Cico?
Cico?
By bike, with the kids and all?!
Sorry for asking, but was that some sort of promise you made?
- Want some? - Yes, please.
- Did you come from very far? - From Rio de Janeiro. Over 3,000 km.
Tell me about these bikes.
I couldn't leave the wife and kids behind, could I?
Thanks.
So I had to use the bikes.
Watch it!
Here it is. To get to Father Cicero's Juazeiro, take this road all the way,
until you see a gas station. It's really far, okay?
When you get there, ask for directions.
But I warn you, it's a long way.
I'm not afraid of the road,
especially having faith in Father Cicero like I do.
Faith that he'll get you a salary of 1,000 reais.
The thing is...
I believe in destiny.
A thousand reais? No poor man makes a thousand.
I can't feed my children with less than that.
Father Cicero will grant me this grace.
I'm such a bad guy
I'll tell you that
It won't be easy
To follow me
The girl who rides with me
Will see I love speed
My car is a hot rod
- I'm such a bad guy. - Wait! Wait!
Wait!
More water here.
It stinks! Hey, Antonio!
Give me a cloth. Cico pooped.
Wash this one over there.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Sorry to interrupt your meal, ladies and gentlemen,
but I'd like to brighten up your day,
with some songs by our king, Roberto Carlos.
Permit me.
I have so much
To tell you
But words
Are not enough to express
How great my love is
For you
There is nothing
I can use to compare
To try and explain
How great my love is
For you
Not even the sky
Nor the stars
Not even the sea
Nor infinity
Can be greater
Nor prettier
Than my love
I desperately look for
A way to let you know
How great my love is
For you
Never forget
Not even for a second
That I have the greatest love
In the world
How great my love is
For you
How great
My love is
For you.
Blessed singing!
Give me that.
Welcome to Patos, in the state of Paraiba.
This is Nazareth Station 5,
where you'll find everything a trucker needs...
mechanics, oil change, wash...
Rodney.
Welcome to Patos, in the state of Paraiba.
This is Nazareth Station 5,
where you'll find everything a trucker needs...
mechanics, oil change, wash,
and a large video room
with lounge chairs and more.
Nazareth, your service station chain!
If Dad catches you...
Antonio!
Why do you do this to me, my love?
My love, my love... I love you so much.
Say something, anything! One word is enough for me.
Who is that with you?
Who is it?
Antonio!
Antonio, I love you!
Antonio, my love,
I love you.
- What the hell? - Antonio!
You let your brother watch this?
What's wrong with you, Antonio?
Get going!
By dawn, I want you all out of here.
He's not a son.
He's God's way of punishing me!
- Your father knows what he's doing. - No, he doesn't,
- going out in the world on bikes. - He's your father!
- So what? - Here's the thing,
a man has to work from an early age.
When I was your age, I was a man.
- I'm a man! - A man who makes no money,
and has no woman?
Your brother is more of a man than you.
At least he makes money with his and Rose's singing.
Don't touch that!
There, there, Cico.
Put yours up there.
Take Cico there, Clevis.
I'll be right back.
Don't go wandering off.
Help your mother.
Get on.
- This is private property! - Excuse me, sir, but...
I could care less! You can't stay here!
Please don't do that.
- Antonio! - Hold her!
No!
For God's sake!
Go get a bandage!
Do these kids have a father, ma'am?
- I'm sorry, Mr. "Portfilo"... - It's Porfirio!
Porfirio!
- Porfirio. - That's right.
I'm sorry, but the boy got nervous
because the man was messing with his mother.
What are you doing here?
It's like this,
we took to the road
looking for a job.
I need a job to feed my wife and my kids.
I need a thousand reais a month.
A thousand a month?
A thousand reais.
I'm going to Father Cicero's Juazeiro. He's my patron saint, and he'll help me.
But if I get a job paying a thousand reais, I'll stay wherever it is.
I'm a son of a bitch!
Here, you'll only find jobs for SOBs, criminals, and thugs.
Are you an SOB.?
- Here. For you and Antonio. - I want my own!
Wash your head, your clothes and body. And don't get dirt on your head!
- But I want my own! - Go on!
Antonio! Hey Antonio!
Give it to me, Antonio.
Come and get it, sissy!
These kids must be a handful, no?
You can say that again!
You've got so many of them!
Mrs. Jurema, you can't imagine what we go through on the road.
What did you expect on bicycles, dear?
That husband of yours is one crazy man.
- Crazy. - But don't you worry. Relax.
My husband will help you.
- Really? - Everybody knows him here.
"The State of Paraiba's Electoral Office,
Sao Bento County section,
hereby testifies that Severino Salgado
got 273 votes...
in the elections
of October 3rd, 1998..."
..."with which he has been assured
a seat on the City Council."
Heavens, does every visitor have to read that?
Don't be a showoff!
She saw it herself! I didn't show her anything!
Rose, let's go to the kitchen. Leave those men there.
- So, you're a councilman? - Yes, the people here like me.
If there's someone in need... I raise them some funds,
passing the hat around, you know?
Now, Mr. Romao, tell me,
what's this crazy idea about this trip on bicycles?
You know Sao Bento is the city of hammocks.
Everybody here works on hammocks, Mr. Romao.
Our hammocks are sold all over Brazil.
My driver's license is class D.
It permits me to drive any vehicle...
trucks, eighteen-wheelers. The only ones I can't drive
are fuel tank trucks, which belong to another class.
My Jurema told me that your wife has worked on hammocks,
- that she knows how to make them. - Yes, she does.
There's always work here, Mr. Romao.
- Now there's one thing. - What thing?
To support my family, I need a job that pays a thousand reais.
- Could you spare a cigarette? - Sure.
- Early in the morning... - Can I have a cigarette, too?
Mr. Romao, get yourself a job,
because your wife is a good worker. She's already on the job.
Mrs. Jurema says each piece pays 30¢.
- Really? - Really.
Appreciate it.
Hey, boy!
That was the last freight this month. They don't need truckers.
Five, six...
seven... eight hammocks.
- Wow, Rose! - That's today.
You're really fast, for the love of God!
Mrs. Jurema, we've been on the road for two months.
You're a godsend. I don't even know how to thank you.
Oh, please, you're welcome.
Is it hard to find a place to live around here?
No, it's not.
Rose!
Hey, Rose! Come and take care of your son!
Excuse me.
How come the boy woke up?
They say there's work...
but I don't think so.
But didn't they find me work right when I arrived?
What work, woman? What work?
I've earned nine reais.
Nine reais!
First day!
Mr. Severino, I'm very thankful to you and Mrs. Jurema...
but I'm not taking your advice.
- My true destiny is on the road. - Don't be hasty, Mr. Romao.
You'll find work soon enough.
That's right. Rose is making some money. You both can manage...
I'm sorry, but it just isn't right.
My patron saint will help me.
- I'm going to Juazeiro. - That's stupid.
I'm staying in Sao Bento!
Blasted boy!
If you think you'll do to me
What you do to everyone that loves you
You'd better learn that for you to keep me
You'll have to change
From now on everything will be different
You'll have to learn to be humane
Your pride is not worth anything
Anything at all
You have a whole life to live
To learn good from evil
You'd better think fast and make your choice
Before the end
You don't know
And never cared to learn
That when we love for real
What matters is happiness and nothing else.
Mom, I'm hungry!
Come to bed. Come on.
Get some sleep.
Sleep will make hunger go away.
Antonio! Antonio!
Antonio!
Antonio, come here!
Go up there.
- Ask the saint for his blessing. - What is that?
You get up on there,
praying on the way up, and asking God...
and asking our patron saint to help us.
Then, you pass by the saint's staff three times.
Each time, you kiss it and say "Amen."
Go, Antonio, go.
Young man, help me, for the love of God.
The test of my love for Father Cicero.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done...
- Long live Father Cicero! - Long live!
The Juazeiro do Norte Diocese salutes the pilgrims
and invites all to visit the museum.
Come visit the Father Cicero Museum,
lift the table up and receive the grace of God.
- Do you make those yourself? - Yes.
I'm here with my kids and we have nothing to eat.
- Can you give me something? - I have no money.
- Bread then, got any? - No, I don't.
The Juazeiro do Norte Diocese salutes the pilgrims
and invites all to visit the museum.
Come visit the Father Cicero Museum,
lift the table up and receive the grace of God.
- Could you help me? - I'm sorry,
I don't even have enough for myself.
All these houses, Romao, and not one piece of bread.
- Let's go see Father Cicero's table. - The kids are hungry!
- What will I give them? - Let's go see the table.
We have to find something for the kids to eat. Let's leave.
That table...
only those without sin can lift it up.
The kids can't hold out any longer!
I will lift up that table...
and Father Cicero will help me.
He will help us get to Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro?
So many houses, so many people...
and no one gave us anything.
Nobody wants to help others.
Or they want to, but can't.
These people only helped because of the table.
Think about it! If someone comes along...
anyone... maybe someone with a family... worse off than us...
what if they ask for help? Will we give?
Will we help?
Will we take from our children to feed a stranger's child?
You, for example,
would you let Clevis or Rodney go hungry to feed a stranger? Of course not.
Giving to the poor is like lending to God.
And when does He pay back?
This isn't a life.
I'm not a man if I can't provide for my wife and kids.
How can you put up with living with a man
who doesn't give you a decent life?
I need to make 1,000 reais a month, in order to provide for you properly.
I'm taking you all to Rio de Janeiro, you'll see.
I'll get a job that pays one thousand reais.
You'll see.
Dad! Dad!
We're tired.
It'll be dark soon. I want to reach a station.
Let's go.
WELCOME TO JUREMAL, BAHIA
- Please give me some change. - No.
- To help me out? - Not even to help you out!
Did you have to say it like that? Wait a minute!
What are you doing?
- Nothing. - Nothing? What do you mean nothing?
- Go find a car to wash! - Go yourself!
What?
- Nothing. - What? Repeat what you just said!
Nothing.
Look how beautiful it is what the lady gave me.
Dad!
Can I get on there?
Give me the knife.
Let me take it off.
- Give it to me. - I found it.
Give it to me.
Here, but don't lose it.
- Where's the car I gave you? - What car?
When we really love someone
We never forget that love
Time goes by, everything goes by
But that love remains in our heart
And every moment apart lasts too long
This yearning is torture
But every minute together is great
Love only grows
I live for her
No one can doubt that
Because she's everything...
In my life.
Poor girl.
Look at that!
Another guy who stuck his nose where he shouldn't have.
So you first cook the beans...
Yeah, first the beans, then I cook the rice in the beans,
- in the same pan. - Wow.
Put it down, you brat! That's his!
- What are you laughing at, sissy? - Don't worry about such a silly thing.
Antonio is now the highway patrol.
The fool is the policeman.
The fool!
When I get there, I know what I will do.
You're going to Rio de Janeiro on bicycles?
Isn't it crazy, Mr. Gideao?
Well, I'm off to Sao Paulo, and I'm going on foot.
It's far, isn't it? But I'll get there.
I've walked from Joao Pessoa to Petrolina.
Now, I'm coming from Fortaleza. I've gotten here...
Sao Paulo is just another stretch.
Yeah, but you're alone.
You can hitch a ride on a truck.
With all these kids and all of these things,
it's even harder on bikes than on foot.
I have this woman who can't even ride well.
But to have a woman to cook, to make coffee...
to cuddle up with, to get cozy and get it on...
sorry for the language, ma'am.
That's not all that bad, Mr. Romao, is it?
Bikes get flat tires.
Kids get hurt.
You, by yourself, have it much easier.
- By myself, I'd go anywhere. - Anywhere?
Yes, I would.
To the US? To Europe?
Even to Japan, my friend!
If they tell me there is a job in Japan that pays 1,000 reais,
I'll go and I'll even get slanted eyes on the way!
Rodney! You crazy kid! Do you want to die?
I was playing ball.
I AM THE MOTHER OF LOVE
Toys!
Dribble one, dribble two...
and kick!
Darn it, Rodney!
So much money!
Mr. Romao,
you are a good man.
You're worth much more than the thousand reais you need.
You see what I mean? I don't want that much.
- I just want what we need, right? - Exactly.
Look, Filadelfia is not even 30 km away.
When you get there, look for a friend of mine, a mechanic.
But don't forget to mention my name.
Tell him you are a friend of Gideao's!
I'm a friend of Gideao's.
- Gideao? - Gideao.
Who's Gideao?
- A guy with a... - His voice is like this...
"A woman to cuddle up with, to get cozy and get it on..."
That's Chupa-Cabra.
Hey, it's not a luxury hotel,
but it beats sleeping on the streets.
If you adjust the TV, you can watch the news,
a soccer game, a soap opera.
Thank you, Mr. Neguica.
It's Saturday. Are those people going to the club?
As I was saying, there are no jobs here.
But we'll see if we can get you some help tomorrow.
You should start fixing the tires on those bikes.
They're all falling apart.
Where is the club?
There's a dance, right? Tonight?
Yes.
It's right over there. You go straight,
- and at the fourth street... - Why do you want to know?
Mother, leave me alone!
Boy, come back in! I'm your mother!
Rose!
Let him go.
Was the dance good?
Yes.
Lots of girls?
Lots.
Did you dance?
Yes, I did.
Did you drink?
Yes.
Are you sure?
Do you want a cigarette?
Yes.
Rodney.
Isn't there any water, Dad?
Feira de Santana Furniture Store,
the biggest furniture variety of the Northeast.
Feira de Santana Furniture Store,
come and take advantage of our promotions.
- Is there a bus to Rio? - What? Speak up, boy!
Rio. Is there a bus to Rio de Janeiro?
We have buses to everywhere, son.
See that "cuckold picker" over there?
It goes from Sao Luis, Maranhao, to Sao Paulo.
It picks up and delivers cuckolds of all sorts...
in all the cities it passes by, even Rio de Janeiro.
Would you like a ticket, mister?
How much is it?
- What's this? - I bought it for us,
- so we don't need to ride our bikes. - Where did you get the money?
Tell us!
Did you steal it? Is this stolen money?
That's impossible! Where did you get it?
- I found it in the church! - Don't blaspheme, boy!
I found it in the church... Rodney! Come on, Rodney!
- Tell the truth! - You shameless brat!
It's to help us!
- I found it in the church! - Look at me, look here!
Look at me!
We beg because we are poor.
But we do not steal.
- Name? - What's this?
- Name? - Xuxa.
Your real name, girl! The name on your ID.
Look here, woman. This is some sort of scam.
But we've been on the road forever, always after any kind of job!
- I've never seen anything like this. - You're such a stubborn man!
Weird is going to Rio de Janeiro on bikes with five children!
Hiring men, women and children.
No education required.
- Great opportunity! - Come on, come on.
Get in!
Boy, lift your head.
You're shy.
- Calado, send in the next batch! - I'm sorry, sir, but it was because...
Panama has people waiting. Take your paper and wait.
- We don't even know what this is about. - You'll listen to me this time.
It's a job for you. It's a job even for Clevis, Rodney and Suelena.
The thing is,
I can't stand the road anymore,
this road or these bicycles! I can't stand seeing the kids go hungry!
Let's go!
Also taking the bicycle, Governor?
Listen, my friend, I'm no governor...
but I can't be without these bicycles.
Panama, can he take bicycles?
Mr. Panama, We can't go without the bicycles.
We came a long way on them.
The bicycle isn't the only one to stay. You aren't on the list, either,
- you or the shy boy. - How can I go without my family?
Some go and some stay? That won't do.
Calado, squeeze all of them inside.
Let's go! Get on the bus, get on.
Only those selected can go in.
- But without my family... - That's final.
Go on, we'll stay here. Go on!
What could they be doing inside?
What kind of job did they give them?
Ladies and gentlemen!
The Road in the Clouds Park thanks you for your presence...
and presents the next attraction
of our nighttime performances.
But first, a few announcements about the daytime attractions.
"Sea Adventure," "Discovering the Discovery,"
and the fantastic "Navigating with Cabral"
offer a 20% discount for senior citizens.
And here it comes, the big attraction of the evening,
the true, the original, Quarup...
performed by real Pataxo Indians.
The Quarup, as you know,
is the Indians' Christmas party.
The Halloween of the Rainforest.
Yes, the Rainforest's Halloween.
With you, Quarup!
Antonio!
- Let me help you! - Never again!
Do you hear me?
You'll never see me accept a job I don't feel right about.
For you, love.
THE ROAD IN THE CLOUDS PARK
Do you want to die?
- But... Antonio! - For heaven's sake!
- Gideao, is Neguica rich? - What?
- Neguica. Is he rich? - Yes, I am.
I'm rich for the night.
Tell him, Chupa-Cabra.
Neguica has been saving up for this night for 20 years.
When he was a boy, they told him he wouldn't live long,
he wouldn't make it to 30.
Do you know what today is? It's this son of a gun's birthday!
I didn't die. I didn't die, you stupid jerks!
Let's go, boy!
Mermaids can also have drinks on me.
You are beautiful!
You devil! How do you leave your mother
and your little brothers, huh?
Your father's right, you're God's way of punishing us!
And you just stand there?
- Say something! - Enough!
Let's go. It's a long way to Rio de Janeiro.
Antonio, take Rodney.
I'm staying here!
What did you say?
Listen here, boy!
I'm your mother! I tell you what to do!
You have no choice!
Stay alone here? Do you think you're your own boss?
- You're not! - Yes, he is.
A son must respect his parents,
but parents don't own their children.
- But, man... - A mother gives life, but...
but she doesn't own her child.
Rodney, go with Clevis.
Let's go. Let's go.
- Come on! Let's go. - Suelena!
Oh, you!
- Hi! - Hi.
- Hi, my mermaid. - Hi, my Panama.
Why are you standing there, boy?
- What's that? - It's for her!
Do you know what this is, boy?
It's a woman. You have to be a real man
to handle this.
- I am a man! - A man?
JESUS IS ALIVE
Welcome to Guarapari, in the state of Espirito Santo.
This is Nazareth Station 1,
where you'll find everything a trucker needs...
mechanics, oil change...
Rodney? Oh, you crazy kid!
Well, look here!
BRICKLAYER'S MATE WANTED
Antonio! Come here!
This isn't a job for me.
But it's one for you.
Can I have a cigarette?
The next one you'll buy with your own money.
We'll get lost in this world, Antonio.
We may never find each other again.
Is this Rio de Janeiro?
Yeah.
If you intend
To find out who I am
I can tell you
Get in my car
On the Santos Road
And you'll get to know who I am...
- How much, please? - One dollar, please.
And that at my age
Only speed
Is my companion
I only ride alone
And on my way
Time runs shorter
I need help
Please give me a hand
I live all alone
If on a curve of the road, I happen to remember my world...
Hey, are you selling me that bike or not?
- No, sir. - He says he came from the North,
with his family on bikes.
My God.
I prefer the curves
On Santos Road
Where I try to forget
A love that I had
And I saw through the mirror
Vanish in the distance...
Bad day.
- Could you tell me something? - Sure.
The bridge over there,
is that the way to Brasilia?
No, to go to Brasilia you take Washington Luis.
Now here's the deal.
We traveled for six months on those bikes to get here.
We're not going back on the road.
But if the love that I lost
I find again
The curves end
And by the Santos Road
I'll no longer go
No, I'll no longer go
I prefer the curves
On Santos Road
Where I try to forget
A love that I had
And I saw through the mirror...
But if the love that I lost
I find again
The curves will end
And by the Santos Road
I'll no longer go
No, no, no, no, no...
THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
{{{ the end }}}