Attempting to flee Brazil’s military regime, the former professor Armando settles into a nondescript life in the bustling city of Recife. While he settles into his new life, he meets a motley of other refugees and attempts to discover his own family’s history in Recife — before the authorities can discover him. Featuring a surprising amount of shark-related subplots, this film won Best Actor (for Wagner Moura) and Best Director (for Kleber Mendoça Filho) at the Cannes Film Festival; it also features the last film role of the great Udo Kier.