[6] German national Johann is traveling in rural northern Brazil in the 1940s, selling the new drug aspirin by screening a short promotional film for isolated villagers, many of whom have never seen a motion picture.

Not wishing to participate in the European war, Johann paints over the advertising logos on the company truck, splits the sales money with Ranulpho, and smuggles himself onto a train with other workers who are supporting the Brazilian-American alliance by working on rubber plantations in the Amazonian jungle.

[7] While Flávio Augusto, writing for CinePlayers, found that the plot for the film was overall "lacking", the cinematography was captivating and portrayed the residents of the Brazilian countryside far better than the comedic antics to which they are often reduced.

[9] Waldemar Dalenogare Neto stated that the developing relationship between Johann and Ranulpho satisified, but that the subtitles for the parts where Ketnath speaks German did not "maintain the grandeur" of the performance.

[11] Ray Bennett, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, said the film provided audiences a look at the "parched wilderness" of Brazil and found the presentation of the relationship between Ranulpho and Johann pleasing.

"[13] Kate Spatola, writing for PopMatters after the DVD release, said the film possesses a quiet strength in its portrayal of ordinary moments filled with "charged possibility".