Review of The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006) by Amanda S — 31 Dec 2009

I'm not entirely sure how it took me four years to see "The Year My Parents Went On Vacation," or how I haven't heard more about it because this is a very moving, well told, wholly engaging piece of cinema.

This Brazilian film tells the story of a pair a boy that is left with his grandfather in a Jewish neighborhood in 1970 while his parents are on "vacation." When his grandfather suddenly dies he finds himself alone.

The script is spot on - dense, well written, and crafted with some considerable patience. Nothing feels rushed here. It takes its time with its characters, and I appreciate that. It can sometimes be a mixed bag when it comes to child actors, but as far as kid performances go, these are pretty darn good.

I have a few technical squabbles here and there, but nothing so crazy that it drags the film down in any way. All things considered, I found "The Year My Parents Went On Vacation" to be an absolute treat.

Powerful, and loaded with emotions that feel extremely real, I'm happy I got around to seeing it, and can't imagine what in the world took me so long. This one gets my recommendation.