Caramelo (2025) 馃惗馃嵅
If Merv left you cold, Caramelo is the perfect antidote. I absolutely adored this Brazilian gem. It follows Pedro (Rafael Vitti), a talented young chef in S茫o Paulo whose dreams are sidelined by a serious cancer diagnosis.
Unlike the "uptight" vibes in other films, the connection here between Pedro and his rescue dog, Caramelo, is pure soul. The dog isn鈥檛 just a background character; he "senses" Pedro's illness before the doctors do and becomes his anchor through treatment. It manages to be a total tear-jerker while remaining hopeful and vibrant rather than gloomy.
It captures that "who rescued who?" sentiment perfectly. The cinematography of the food and the city is gorgeous, but the real star is the dog, Amendoim, who gives one of the most expressive canine performances I've ever seen.
Warning: Keep tissues nearby for the third act! 馃槶鉂わ笍
Rating: 5/5 馃惥