Carandiru (2003)

Carandiru: Directed by Hector Babenco. With Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos, Milton Gonçalves, Ivan de Almeida, Ailton Graça. Brazilian MD Drauzio Varella starts AIDS prevention in Brazil’s largest prison, Carandiru in São Paulo, where the population is nearly double its 4,000 maximum. Doc learns from experience and the tragic stories of hideous crimes which landed scum there and passionate dramas adding otherwise decent people. Just when he believes to leave the prisoners happy with a soccer tournament, a silly clothing-line argument kick-starts a politically opportune revolt repression.

“As a Brazilian, I saw on TV many of the things that happened inside Carandiru, the biggest jail in Brazil and maybe the biggest in Latin America. I can clearly remember the news where we saw the police invasion and the slaughter they made there instead of stopping the prisoners rebellion u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI knew this fact would be shown in Hector Babencou0026#39;s film, but I could never imagine it would be so strongly illustrated. Itu0026#39;s pure violence and the audience gets really astonished. Although itu0026#39;s really sad and we canu0026#39;t avoid being sorry for those deaths and suffering, itu0026#39;s impossible not to like the movie. Itu0026#39;s excellent. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s important to say that the invasion is not the only fact that is shown. Actually the book is based in Drauzio Varelau0026#39;s book. Mr. Varela is a doctor who worked in the jail helping the prisoners. The book, that is called u0026quot;Estação Carandiruu0026quot; (Carandiru station – because of the underground station that is nearby) is a success in Brazil. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e27-year-old Rodrigo Santoro is one of the best actors we have in Brazil nowadays. His talent on Brazilian TV Series have guaranteed him good roles in films made in the country and recently he has started an international career, once heu0026#39;ll be in u0026quot;Charlieu0026#39;s Angels 2u0026quot;. Some other good actors like Milton Gonçalves and Caio Blat add more positive points to the production. Some others, unknown up to now, showed theyu0026#39;ll probably have much success in the future due to their talent, like Lázaro Ramos. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eArgentinean Hector Babenco directed u0026#39;Carandiruu0026#39; with a great sense of art, talent and made his film probably the best one of Brazilian cinema this year. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMy rate 10/10”