You are here:

The Best Things in the World

Name: The Best Things in the World
Director: Laís Bodanzky
Released: 2010
Duration: 106 min

2010

Director

Laís Bodanzky

Runtime

106 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Everyday family life as perfectly normal madness. “As Melhores Coisas do Mundo“ follows a few days in the life of the 15-year-old Mano, who is fighting on two fronts: his parents have just got divorced and he is going through puberty. Mano tries to make his way through life, with its first sexual experiences, his depressed brother and his self-centered parents. It’s a humorous homage to the pitfalls of daily life and the diversity of life.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.0/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film explores adolescent sexuality and the diversity of life through Mano's perspective. While specific non-cisnormative identities are not explicitly detailed, the narrative suggests a departure from rigid heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Good

The story subverts traditional domestic ideals by portraying parents as flawed, self-centered individuals rather than stable authority figures. This deconstructs the standard patriarchal or matriarchal family structure.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film's Brazilian context implies a departure from Anglo-centric storytelling. However, specific details regarding the cast's ethnic composition and racial intersectionality remain unconfirmed.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative prioritizes individual psychological truth over traditional familial sanctity. It uses a humanist lens to explore the dysfunction and madness inherent in daily life.

Disability Representation

Fair

Mental health is integrated into the core family dynamic through the character of a depressed brother. This approach grants the struggle agency within the central domestic drama.

Strengths

Subverts traditional family hierarchies by portraying parents as flawed and individualistic.
Integrates mental health struggles into the central narrative rather than as a subplot.
Challenges conservative social structures through a humanist, subjective lens.

Areas for Improvement

Lacks explicit confirmation of specific LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative characters.
Provides limited specific information regarding the racial and ethnic composition of the cast.

AI Analysis

The film serves as a character-driven critique of the traditional nuclear family. By focusing on the messy realities of puberty, divorce, and mental health, it avoids idealized social norms in favor of psychological complexity. Laís Bodanzky’s direction suggests an intentionality toward social critique. The film moves away from institutional stability to highlight the subjective, often chaotic, experiences of individual family members. While the narrative offers a nuanced look at domestic dysfunction and mental health, specific data on racial and LGBTQ+ identities is limited, preventing a higher diversity score.

How are these scores produced? →