Three homeless teenage rejects struggle to survive together. Of them, Andreia is pregnant, while Pedro and Ricardo hustle, steal and are exploited by a pornographer.
Acting
Non-professional cast bleeds raw authenticity.
Direction
Villaverde's unflinching gaze refuses exploitation.
Cinematography
Lisbon's shadows swallow these kids whole.
Director
Teresa Villaverde
Ana Moreira
Andreia
Alexandre Pinto
Pedro
Teresa Roby
Pedro's Mother
António Capelo
Pedro's Father
Alexandra Lencastre
Social worker
Isabel Ruth
Isabel
Rita Blanco
Psychologist
José Raposo
Director of Girls' Institute
Guilherme Filipe
Director of Boys' Institute
Luís Esparteiro
Portuguese
António Pedro Cerdeira
Doorman
Luísa Cruz
Woman at Service Station
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of Portugal's 1990s 'cinema de regresso' movement confronting Salazar-era social fractures still bleeding into democracy. Villaverde was among few women directors breaking through this boys' club.
Ana Moreira was discovered in a Lisbon street casting and became Villaverde's muse; this was Alexandre Pinto's only film before disappearing from public life entirely.
PT
