Brainstorm

Brainstorm

Year: 2000

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: Portuguese

Director: Laís Bodanzky

Drama

Neto, a middle‑class teenager whose life seems ordinary, is abruptly uprooted when his father discovers a marijuana cigarette in his pocket. He is committed to a mental institution, where he confronts a bizarre, inhumane world in which a corrupt, cruel system voraciously consumes its victims.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Brainstorm (2000)

Trace every key event in Brainstorm (2000) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening letter from Neto

The film opens with Mr. Wilson reading a letter from his son, Neto, in which Neto declares his contempt for his father. The letter triggers a flashback that begins to explain Neto's fraught relationship with his parents, Meire and Wilson.

opening scene Wilson's home
2

Neto's troubled family life in São Paulo

The flashback reveals Neto as a São Paulo teenager with a strained bond to both parents. He navigates a difficult home environment and a growing sense of alienation from Meire and Wilson.

early in flashback São Paulo, Neto's family home
3

Neto runs away with Lobo to Santos

One day Neto leaves home with his friend Lobo and travels to Santos without telling his parents. They check into an apartment, where they swim and eat and begin testing boundaries of their independence.

the day Neto runs away Santos
4

Leninha helps Neto; downtown encounter

Alone in downtown, Neto begs for money and is helped by a woman named Leninha. She takes him home to have lunch with friends, and Neto and Leninha have sex after the meal.

after the apartment episode Downtown
5

Neto arrested for graffiti

That night Neto is arrested for graffiti and his parents come to collect him at the police station. The incident marks the first major law trouble that triggers concern about his behavior.

that night Police station
6

Marijuana discovery and mental institution suggestion

The following day, Neto's father finds a marijuana cigarette in Neto's jacket. His sister urges the parents to send him to a mental institution, escalating the family's anxiety about his wellbeing.

the following day Neto's home
7

Forced hospitalization by Wilson

Wilson tricks Neto and has him admitted to a hospital without proper examination. Neto is sedated and examined by Dr. Cintra, who prescribes treatment as the family watches in confusion.

shortly after the prior event Hospital (psychiatric)
8

Hospital life and new companions

In the hospital Neto meets Ceará, a hyperactive patient, and Rogério, an inject-able drug user. He learns the ward is decaying and uncaring, and Rogério warns that escape would be dangerous, while Cintra discusses possible admissions to maintain subsidies.

early in hospital stay Hospital ward
9

Family visits and grim prognosis

Neto's parents and sister visit, but the doctor deceitfully claims Neto will need months of treatment. Neto pleads to leave with his family, but they refuse to take him out of the hospital.

during family visits Hospital
10

Escape attempt and electroshock

Days later Neto tries to escape and is subjected to electroshock treatment as punishment. The harsh regime underscores how little control he has over his circumstances.

days later Hospital
11

Return home with father after a visit

One day Neto's father visits and tells him that he and Meire miss him. Wilson then takes Neto away from the hospital and back home.

subsequent visit Hospital and home
12

Back home, schooling vs work; Leninha's status revealed

Back home, Neto is asked whether to return to school or begin selling. He chooses work, but faces social friction as a friend's mother forbids him from seeing Leninha, whom he later learns is married.

after discharge Home
13

Party night and a violent turn

To unwind, Neto attends a late-night party, mixes Coca-Cola and cachaça, and ends up kissing his friend Bel in a bathroom. Drunk and out of control, he damages the club and police escort him to another psychiatric hospital.

that night Nightclub/party venue
14

Second hospital life and a fire plan

In the second hospital Neto angers a nurse named Ivan after reporting harm from staff. He later mirrors the risk by inciting inmate Biu to set a fire to a stack of drugs, earning solitary confinement for his actions.

after transfer Second hospital
15

Letter to father and the ending

After a period of solitary, Neto writes a letter to his father and is handed it during a family visit. A hair cut refusal leads to another solitary confinement until nurses rescue him. The film ends with Wilson crying as he and Neto sit side-by-side on a curb.

end of film Hospital and curbside

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:30

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