41% of the pupils in the Brazilian primary school have learnt neither to write nor read. Is society able to fulfil its responsibility of giving young people a path to follow, this gripping documentary asks, which without moralising lets us meet teachers and pupils at five schools with differing means. The contrasts are telling but the film still never loses sight of the individual. Instead it gives a voice to the youths themselves, who with rare honesty talk about hopes for the future, disillusions and the challenge of keeping one’s emotions under control when they meet the expectations of the grown-up world.

Its awards include Best Documentary at the 2006 São Paulo film festival. It is an important contribution to the ever-topical debate on the consequences of privatisation on social mobility. mm

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