The Middle of the World

The film moves from the rural Northeast of Paraíba through small towns and into larger urban centers, highlighting Brazil's stark economic contrasts. Juazeiro do Norte and Filadélfia anchor crucial moments of faith, shelter, and decision-making for the family. The journey also threads through Porto Seguro and Feira de Santana, culminating with the family arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where dreams of work and a better life collide with temptation and disillusionment. The story later touches Brasília as a referenced goal that frames their precarious hopes.

💸 Poverty

The family's pursuit of a minimal income exposes the grinding poverty that frames their daily decisions. Each stop—washing cars, performing songs, or chasing odd jobs—highlights how scarcity shapes choices and pushes them toward risky opportunities. The narrative traces how money, or the lack of it, governs hope and desperation. Moral lines blur as the family improvises to survive.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family

The journey tests the bonds and resilience of the family unit. Parents strive to protect their children while navigating scams and unreliable promises, and the children react with a mix of obedience, curiosity, and mischief. Conflicts and reconciliation unfold across towns and camps, revealing the strength and fragility of kinship under pressure. The film centers on collective endurance rather than individual success.

🙏 Faith

Religious imagery and moments of ritual punctuate the voyage, from Padre Cícero's statue to the Pataxó-inspired spectacle. Faith offers both solace and a lure for escape, as characters seek blessings or signs to guide their path. The film explores how belief can inspire hope while also being exploited by those promising easy solutions. These moments contrast with the harsher realities of their journey.