Set in Sao Paulo in the turbulent year of 1970, this poignant and humorous coming-of-age story thrusts a 12-year-old boy, Mauro, into a maelstrom of political and personal upheaval. When his left-wing militant parents are forced to go underground, Mauro is left in the care of his Jewish grandfather's neighbor in Sao Paulo. Suddenly finding himself in exile in his own country, he is forced to create an ersatz family from the religiously diverse and colorful population of his new neighborhood, all while the entire nation is captivated by the exciting World Cup soccer finals. This film was Brazil's official submission for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.