CandiesThe Netflix hit film directed by Brazilian director Diego Freitas appears at first glance to be a simple story. It explores the friendship between a stray dog and a boy who, to no one’s surprise, ends up adopting him despite his initial doubts. That’s it, and then living together is an adventure that will make the new owner a better person. But the film defies expectations and strives to balance tenderness, humor and vulnerability without falling into forced sentimentality. As such, it reaches a wider audience than is typical for productions of this type.
But in particular, Candies This is a film with a huge heart that makes it clear very quickly that it doesn’t want to reinvent the cinematic wheel or fall into cliché. Thus, the plot focuses on Pedro (Rafael Vitti), a young chef who is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. His disciplined and solitary routine changes dramatically when a stray dog whom he later christens Caramel, enters his life in a chaotic and colorful manner.
What starts out as comedy between a dog doing its thing soon turns into emotional support. Also, in a refuge amidst fear and disease. Candies He avoids making the focus of his message on how cute the dog protagonist, played by five different dogs, can be, or on the human drama. Instead, he pays more attention to the fact that sooner or later a dog can become a true friend. what anyone might need in the worst moment imaginable.
Life, love and barking in “Karamelo”
Therefore, the film focuses on the charming and flawed characters who surround Pedro in his time of need. His mother (Kelzie Eckard), caring and sensitive; Camila (Arianna Botelho), an animal rescuer who embodies unvarnished compassion; and Leo (Bruno Vinicius), treatment partner and humorous counterpoint to the tragedy. The film’s cast is completed by Adhemara, Carolina Ferraz, Cristina Pereira and a special appearance from Paola Carosella. whose presence strengthens the connection between gastronomy and everyday life.
The most interesting thing about Candies is that it avoids falling into the traditional melodrama that typically dominates terminal illness narratives. Diego Freitas strikes a precise balance between pain and ease, ensuring that the viewer does not feel emotionally manipulated. The script presents moments of suffering—diagnosis, chemotherapy, physical vulnerability—but these are interspersed with moments of humor and tenderness that subvert any tragic expectations. The photography, bright and warm, enhances that sense of hope that creeps through the shadows. Instead of wallowing in suffering, the film offers a broader reflection: how bonds, human or not, can sustain us in the face of the inevitable.
Rafael Vitti’s performance supports much of the narrative weight. In a natural interpretation, without excesses, he manages to convey the confusion and humility of one who, despite fear, decides to continue living. His Peter seeks to instill not compassion, but understanding; This is a man who rediscovers tenderness in everyday life and, by accepting his fragility, becomes more human. The scenes between him and the dog are filled with the depth of a genuine emotional connection. These are not forced metaphors about loyalty or hope, but simple gestures: a glance, general silence, an aimless walk. This is a big part of the film’s honesty.
Love for every taste
For her part, Arianna Botelho brings warmth and freshness to the role of Camila. Her relationship with Pedro develops without the clichés of romantic illness stories. No speeches or heroic sacrifices, only a connection that arises from complicity and the desire to accompany. Bruno Vinicius, on the other hand, plays Leo with a charming charisma that acts as an emotional valve. His humor never simplifies the pain, but rather makes it more bearable. It’s a combination of sincere acting and script. which avoids the predictable, transforms Candies in an emotionally balanced experience.
Freitas’ direction demonstrates a remarkable mastery of tone. Avoid tear-jerking resources and opt for a more subdued narrative where emotion comes from gestures rather than musical underscoring. The pace, although slow, maintains attention through the progressive building of connections between characters. The camera, close and warm, transforms everyday spaces—the kitchen, the hospital, the home—into scenes of intimacy. The presence of a dog is more than a symbol, it is a catalyst for transformation: a reminder that life continues to move even in the midst of pain.
Compared to other films that explore the relationship between humans and animals, Candies It stands out from other films that use a dog for manipulation. Here the connection is not a tear-inducing narrative device, but a reflection of the silent bond that can arise between two wounded beings. The scenario suggests that empathy in any form is a tool for resistance to illness. Freitas is looking for a story not about death, but about accompaniment: about how presence, Even the most unexpected can give life meaning when everything seems to be falling apart.
(If you are concerned about the topic: Caramelo experiences his adventure)
Source: Hiper Textual
