First time director Marcos Bernstein enlists the expertise of two veteran Brazilian performers to craft this refreshing combination of contemporary mystery and sunset years romance between two aging but vital spirits.

The first, and the central character who shoulders the heart of the story, is Regina, a divorced grandmother who faces each new day with intrepid purpose, even if getting out of bed in the morning is a bit slower than it once was. The career options are undeniably reduced for 65-year-old Regina and center around policing her Copacabana neighborhood in her role as "Snow White," a member of "The Service," a community action police effort made up of alert and willing seniors to report suspicious activity. She does this in small ways and large. She picks up the droppings left by scofflaw dog walkers as she walks her faithful dog, Betina. She fearlessly goes into situations many women any age would avoid. As Regina, 74 year old Fernanda Montenegro (Central Station) looks damn good decked out in leather outfit and nighttime make-up to infiltrate a dance club where she believes young girls are being hijacked for prostitution. She sees meddling as her duty and goes way beyond the call, relishing her triumphs when she provides information to police officer Alcides that result in an arrest.

In a scene reminiscent of Rear Window, as she gazes with her binoculars one evening at the high rise apartment on the other side of the street, she sees a man give an injection to a woman. Convinced that the man, Dr Camargo, (Raul Cortez) has murdered his wife, she reports her suspicion to Alcides and sets out to prove it. The mystery is adequate enough but the complexities of the relationship that develops between these two lonely people is much more satisfying. Though this may not be a film that young audiences will find attractive based on the age of the players, those who know there is life beyond 30 will do well to catch it. One day, and sooner than one thinks, they will see themselves as Regina does: as she always has. She is frequently astonished that others see an old woman instead. Even her shortsightedness is the same as it always was. Namely, she has little wish to take stock of her own shortcomings, though deficiencies in others are easy to spot and to judge.

Judging by film fare, a visitor from the future would think that humans lost all interest in sex as soon as they forfeited their young, slim, hard bodies. This is that rare animal, like Autumn Sun, a 1996 Argentine film with a similar theme, that is fresh, original and well worth the price of admission. We are rarely offered stories involving romantic conundrums about anyone over 50, let alone a sexual entanglement for two vital, self-assured late middle-agesters. The subtext of class and economic status insert themselves just enough to make it all seem very real.

The question of whether or not a murder has occurred becomes secondary, and the film works exceedingly well to flesh out the dynamics of the relationship. When the usually uncompromising Regina tearfully reveals that she knows no one like Camargo would have come into her life were it not for her renegade investigation, she is able to understand the sadness of her life. While appearing courageous and bold, her fearlessness has not extended to facing the problems in her real life and family until this unexpected romantic mystery presents itself.