Trash **** (2014, Rooney Mara, Martin Sheen, Wagner Moura) – Movie Review

Rickson Tevez and Eduardo Luis play Rafael and Gardo, trash-picking Brazilian boys from Rio’s slums, who find a wallet in their local garbage dump. When the cops show up, offering a handsome reward for the wallet’s return, the boys realize that what they’ve found must be important and go on the run.

This movie is entirely in Portuguese, so it’s a surprise that it’s a British movie from Working Title, written by Richard Curtis and directed by Stephen Daldry, the director of Billy Eliott. And what a great job they’ve made of its. It’s tense and exciting throughout, with a big, exciting, nail-biting finish.

Rooney Mara and Martin Sheen are the only famous names as the woman and priest who try to help the kids out of the mess they’re in. Both are fine, but they’re just there to be supporting acts to Tevez and Luis, who are great.

It scored a Bafta nomination for Best Film not in the English Language.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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