Interview: On the Road with Walter Salles

Walter Salles "On the Road"

Acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles crafts personal, socially conscious stories that are emotional without being manipulative and simple without being simplistic. Among them: the gritty “Terra Estrangeira (Foreign Land),” the earthy fable “Abril Despedacado (Behind the Sun)” and “Linha de Passe,” which earned Sandra Corveloni the best actress award at Cannes. “Central do Brasil (Central Station)” collected dozens of prizes and received Oscar nominations for best foreign-language film and lead actress (Fernanda Montenegro); “Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries),” the story of a cross-continental trek that shaped Ernesto (Che) Guevara, was an international hit and major award winner.

The 54-year-old, twice a BAFTA honoree, will receive the Founder’s Directing Award on Thursday at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Q: Your films tend to be set in specific sociopolitical circumstances.