Now this is a movie I can really relate to in some ways.  When your single, every woman you seem to take a liking to is taken, or has some set "level of standards", most times you can never live up to. Then there's that one woman that's so beautiful, if you do nothing else, you have to know her name. That's being lovesick alright...  But what to do when you DO get that all important date?  You need to shower, shave, put on some cologne, and check your money. Without this, getting around is pointless.  And when you're in Brazil... even more so!  This is a movie about a man, and his desparate attempt to be happy.

André – the main character – is in love. Only problem is that she doesn't know that André even exists. What's more, is that André spies on her from his bedroom window through his binoculars.  André wants to become a cartoonist, and is quite good at drawing. He can't very well expect to get a girl telling her that his job is to just run the photocopier at the local corner store, now can he?  Especially since Mr. Gomide –  the store's owner – only pays him but so much as a wage.  But, at least there Marinés to talk to.

Marinés works with André at the corner store, at the supplies counter.  The two page through magazines and dream about what the rest of the world must look like. It's about this time that André has gotten up the courage to talk to Silvia – the love of his life that he spies on nightly – so he can get to know her. Visits her workplace (after following her one day) and acts like he wants to buy a robe for his mother's birthday. Silva tells him it's $38 for the robe.  Now, André doesn't have that kind of money, and he'd have to work quite a bit to make that much.  One day, on his way in to work, a truck is wheeling in a new photocopier. A color one. The wheels begin to turn in André's head when Mr. Gomide asks André to go pay a bill for him... leaving the bill, and a R$ 50 banknote (a 50-dollar bill in Brazilian money - currency: The Brazilian Real). Hmmm... a R$ 50 banknote and a color photocopier....   hmmmm...   From here on out, just hold on to your hats!

I'm glad I came across this trailer online when I was looking to see what was new and interesting coming to DVD.  I thought, this looks interesting... if I see it on DVD, I'll get it.  It's funny, it's serious, it's sad, its got some thrills, and most of all it's about love and happiness, and what people do to try to obtain it.  You may see yourself in this film.  Yes, I mean just that.  Think of all the things you would do, could do, or even have done in order to become noticed, give, recieve, and enjoy love's embrace?  Especially with someone  you've thought about recently.  Put yourself in André's shoes... what would you have done?  What would you have done differently?

– Brian K. James