The Year My Parents Went on Vacation 2008

In the sweltering summer of 1970, São Paulo serves as the backdrop for a poignant tale of innocence, displacement, and resilience. The story centers around Mauro (12), a wide-eyed youngster who finds himself suddenly orphaned by his parents’ hasty departure to avoid the suffocating grasp of Brazil’s authoritarian government. Bia and Daniel Stein, fervent activists, leave their young son in the care of his paternal grandfather, Mótel, a barber with a kind heart.

As fate would have it, Mauro’s father dies on the very day he arrives in São Paulo, plunging the boy into a sense of abandonment and uncertainty. The once-tight-knit community of Bom Retiro, a working-class neighborhood teeming with Jewish residents, rallies around him. Shlomo, an elderly neighbor and friend of Mótel’s, assumes guardianship, offering Mauro a lifeline in these trying times.

Mauro, an ardent football enthusiast with dreams of becoming a goalkeeper, slowly integrates into the neighborhood’s vibrant tapestry. He befriends Hanna, a kindred spirit his age; Ítalo, a passionate student from São Paulo’s prestigious Catholic university; and Irene, a captivating bartender who shares her affection for the beautiful game with her boyfriend, a mulatto ace goalkeeper. As Mauro navigates this new world, he finds solace in the rabbi, Jewish elders, Italian immigrants, and other colorful characters that inhabit Bom Retiro, a melting pot of cultures and experiences.

As the World Cup reaches its thrilling conclusion, Mauro’s anticipation is replaced with desperation. His parents’ long-awaited arrival has vanished into thin air, leaving him feeling abandoned and bewildered. In a bid to uncover the truth, Shlomo embarks on a solo investigation that ultimately lands him in hot water with the political police. The authorities are not amused by his meddling, and he finds himself behind bars, his reputation tarnished.

Meanwhile, Mauro’s mother is forced to endure the harsh realities of prison life, her health rapidly deteriorating as she struggles to cope with the brutal conditions. Her eventual release is a bittersweet moment, as she is finally reunited with her son on the very same day that Brazil claims victory at the World Cup. The jubilation that fills the air serves only to highlight the stark contrast between the triumph of the national team and the crushing defeat Mauro’s family has suffered.

As the mother and child prepare to leave behind the familiar streets of Bom Retiro, they are forced to confront the harsh reality of their new circumstances. With their father gone, lost in the clutches of the oppressive regime, Mauro must bid farewell to his friends and playmates, leaving behind the only life he has ever known as he and his mother embark on a perilous journey into exile. The future stretches out before them like an uncertain landscape, full of danger and uncertainty, but also holding out the promise of freedom and a chance to start anew.