Watch Captains of the Sand

Captains of the Sand is a Brazilian coming-of-age film released in 2011, directed by Cecilia Amado and produced by Walter Salles. The movie is based on a novel of the same name, published in 1937 by Jorge Amado. The story is set in the 1930s in Salvador, a poverty-stricken city in Brazil, where a group of young boys lives on the streets, engaging in petty crimes to survive.

The movie follows the lives of Pedro Bala (Jean Amorim) and his friends, who call themselves "Captains of the Sand." Pedro is the leader of the group, and his closest friends are Professor (Roberio Lima) and Gato (Paulo Abade). The boys do not have any parental figures, for they have grown up on the streets and take care of themselves. While they try to survive on the streets, they cling to their dreams of a better future.

The story begins with the boys stealing food at the market and being chased by the police. They manage to escape and take refuge in a deserted building, where they meet a girl named Dora (Ana Graciela). Dora is from a wealthy family and has run away from home after a dispute with her father. She feels attracted to Pedro and the other boys and decides to stay with them.

Dora is fascinated by the lives of the boys, their stories, and their dreams. As the story progresses, the viewer witnesses the hardships the boys face daily. With the authorities and the police always after them, the boys' situation becomes increasingly desperate. Despite that, they find joy in moments of kindness and love that they share with each other.

The plotline of the movie takes a more serious turn with the sudden arrival of a priest who wants to help the boys. Father José Pedro offers them a home, food, education, and therapy. He tries to convince the boys to leave the streets and bring about change in their lives. The boys respond to the father's offer with skepticism and resistance. They have grown bitter and hardened by the difficulties of their lives, and they do not want to be exploited anymore.

The climax of the movie comes when the police, in collaboration with the father, plan to break up the boys' group and send them to shelters and work camps. The boys decide to resist and stay together; they develop a plan to defend their freedom and remain on the streets. The final scenes of the movie show the boys taking a boat out to sea, searching for a place where they can live freely and realize their dreams.

Overall, Captains of the Sand is a thought-provoking, emotional movie that explores the lives of impoverished children in Brazil. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions and struggles feel raw and genuine. The film's cinematography is beautiful, and the music adds to the story's atmosphere. Captains of the Sand is an inspiring story about friendship, bravery, and resilience in the face of adversity.