In Alice’s house, live her three boys, Lucas (Vinicius Zinn), Edinho (Ricardo Vilaca) and Junior (Filipe Massuia), her husband Lindomar (Zecarlos Machado) and her mother Dona (Berta Zemel) who is slowly losing her sight.

Each family member has a secret.  None is guiltless, not even Alice(Carla Ribas) who flirts with her customer’s (at her manicurist store) guy.

ALICE’S HOUSE has the feel of a woman’s film though the writer/director is male.  The strongest characters are Alice and her mother, Dona Jacira.  The mother who stays home cleaning, ironing and washing sees and knows all that is going on with each member of the family – whether her son-in-law is cheating, her eldest grandson pulling a trick for money unless she is having her money stolen (from Edinho).  This is where the viewer feels betrayed as with the way the film appears to be heading, it appears that something is going to explode, stemming from the oldest member who is wises and all-knowing.

Still Teixeiro’s film is compelling from start to finish.  This is not the typical big budget Brazilian film (CHE GUEVARA) or the edgy violent teen drama (CITY OF GOD, CITY OF MEN) but a realistic look at the goings-on of a suburban Sao Paulo family.  Though one might argue that every family no matter where in the world, has its problems, Teixeiro adds a distinct Brazilian flavour to Alice’s.  Texeiro has a sharp eye for detail and uses it often.  The dinner table scene where a family member says thank you or not while being served says much about the person as well as the situation.  The end result is a film that derives its pleasure from watching how people deal or cope with their problems.