The Middle of the World 2004

Romão Wagner Moura and Rose Cláudia Abreu are a poor couple living in Paraíba, in search of a job that pays around R$1,000 a month—the amount Romão believes is the minimum needed to feed his children. They decide to embark on a bicycle journey to Rio de Janeiro with their five children: Antônio Ravi Ramos Lacerda (the teenager); Rodney (Manoel Sebastião Alves Filho); Clévis (Felipe Newton Silva Rodrigues); Suelena (Cícera Cristina Almino de Lima); and newborn Cícero (Cícero Wesley A. Ferreira).

Along the way, they earn a little money washing cars and performing Roberto Carlos songs. They chase a string of opportunities, but none pan out. They are first offered a job by a criminal who warns that he can only hire “sons of bitches.” Later, a councilman from São Bento named Severino promises work, but the promise drags on, and the family decides to move on.

They stop by the Juazeiro do Norte statue of Father Cícero to pray, where Romão hears about the “table of Padre Cícero,” a supposed blessing for anyone who can lift it. He gives it a try, lifts the table, and then faints. A lone traveler named Gideão tells them to head to Filadélfia to find Neguiça. That night, Antônio and Clévis stumble upon a church and accidentally smash a cash box full of money; Antônio gives in to temptation and pockets the bills.

In Filadélfia, Neguiça offers shelter but no steady work. Antônio tries to go to a local night party but flees, unsettled by the unfamiliar surroundings.

In Feira de Santana, Antônio buys bus tickets to Rio for everyone, but when asked where the money came from, he admits it was stolen from the church; Romão tears up the tickets in anger. The family then encounters Panamá and Callado, a pair looking for men, women, and children for a “great opportunity,” with no particular skills required. Romão reluctantly agrees to let Panamá take the bikes on a truck bound for the opportunity, and to bring along three other family members who weren’t selected.

The opportunity turns out to be a sham Pataxó ritual in a Porto Seguro club. Romão and three of his children are dressed as Pataxó, while Panamá poses as the foreign owner of Caminho das Nuvens (Path of the Clouds). Antônio sneaks into the club; when Romão spots him, he leaves in the middle of the ritual, and the rest of the family leaves as well. Frustrated, Romão orders Rose not to arrange such jobs again.

Still in Porto Seguro, Antônio meets Sereia, who hands out Caminho das Nuvens flyers. He later reconnects with Neguiça and Gideão, and they take him to a local party where he meets Sereia again and shares a quick photo with her. The next morning, Rose scolds him for disappearing, and Antônio decides to stay in Porto Seguro while Romão accepts and leaves with the rest of the family. That night, he sees Sereia with Panamá; when Antônio spills a drink on Panamá’s face, Sereia pushes him to the ground. The family gathers again soon after.

Upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Romão tries to arrange a bricklayer job for Antônio in a city far from Rio; he agrees to stay and says a final goodbye to his family. In Rio, they visit Christ the Redeemer. Romão asks a man for directions to Brasília, while Rose makes it clear she is not going back to the long road.