Helen

"In the very first scene of 'Helen', director André Meirelles Collazzo follows the title character as she enters her home -- one of many tenements in the Bixiga region of São Paulo. It's an immense residence, with multiple entrances, corners, doors, and families. At the end of Helen's journey, played by Thalita Machado do Nascimento, she finds her paternal grandmother (Marcélia Cartaxo, brilliant on screen). From there, questions arise that are slowly answered: who is this family? Where are the girl's parents? How do she and her grandmother survive? From there, Collazzo weaves a beautiful account of their daily lives, slowly answering these initial questions -- and delving into other important questions about families living on the margins of society. There is delicacy in what is shown, without anyone forcing the audience to be emotional. The emotion, and sometimes tears, come naturally, from this very real, very true, very São Paulo story. The absolute highlight is Cartaxo (from 'Pacarrete'), who shines on screen as a true, absolute grandmother, and who leads her life with her granddaughter with a firm hand. A movie to be emotional about, to dive into the routine of people from São Paulo and understand the lives of others."