Dora (Fernanda Montenegro) once worked as a teacher, but now she earns a small amount of money in Rio de Janeiro by writing letters for people who can’t read or write. She barely notices a woman and her son until something terrible happens to them, and then the young Josué (Vinícius de Oliviera) asks her to compose another letter – he's still unsure whether she actually sent the first one! This new letter is addressed to his father in a distant town, but how will he manage on his own, with no money, in a city full of risks? Although she’d prefer to be rid of him as much as he wants to get away from her, they embark on a journey hoping to reunite him with his dad. It's clear that these unwilling travel partners will irritate each other, and their limited funds barely cover the bus tickets. There’s no guarantee they’ll find his father or even if Josué would recognize someone he’s never met. I honestly can't recall seeing a more compelling connection between actors than what's present here. Montenegro is completely believable – not only in her role but also in how well she interacts with Oliviera, whose initially impish character develops into a hugely appealing personality. The road trip format strengthens their bond and offers glimpses of life in Brazil’s relatively poor and underdeveloped regions, as well as the kindness of its people. This story focuses on an important period in both of their lives, but it feels unfinished, which I thought worked very effectively. It avoids forcing contrived or overly dramatic situations. Cleverly written dialogue provides some humorous moments alongside the more serious aspects as they gradually learn about each other; the nearly two hours delivers a personable and entertaining love story that's touching and genuinely lovely.

Source on TMDB