AllMovie

A Brazilian astrophysicist who has spent most of his adult life in America returns to his home country to accept a prestigious government award and come to terms with his troubled past after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Upon returning to Brazil, Antonio (Jose Wilker) accepts his award and sets out to visit his adoptive father while attempting to find out the identity of his biological mother. Soon after being taken under the wing of street smart, dope dealing urchin Mosca (Sergio Malheiros) comes into contact with the wise Zeze (Lea Garcia). Fifty years ago the compassionate Zeze had provided Mosca's long lost mother with a helping hand in her most desperate hour, and now she has the opportunity to bring it all full circle by doing the same for the woman's son. As Mosca seeks out the company of the sensual Luciana (Tais Araujo), the ghost of a teenage girl (Anna Sophia Folch) flutters in the corner of his vision hinting that death can come calling at any time.