- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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5 out of 5
Inspired by Paulo Lins's fact-based novel, this three-act chronicle of gangland rivalry on the streets of Rio de Janeiro resists the temptation to glamorise crime, as so many New York Mob movies have done. Yet director Fernando Meirelles's audacious visual style may disconcert those expecting a neorealistic approach to the story of a teenage hoodlum's rise and fall. It invites comparisons with GoodFellas, as the often explosive and meticulously designed action spans the late 1960s to the early 80s. But the no-holds-barred authenticity of the non-professional juvenile cast and Meirelles's edgy social commitment make it a wholly unique experience.
Plot Summary
Crime thriller, featuring a non-professional cast, charting the brutal history of gang wars in a Rio de Janeiro shanty town as seen through the eyes of a boy who dreams of becoming a photographer.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Buscapé, "Rocket"
- Alexandre Rodrigues
- Zé Pequeño, "Li'l Ze"
- Leandro Firmino da Hora
- Bené, "Beny"
- Phellipe Haagensen
- Dadinho, "Li'l Dice"
- Douglas Silva
- Cabeleira, "Shaggy"
- Jonathan Haagensen
- Sandro Cenoura, "Carrot"
- Matheus Nachtergaele
- Mané Galinha, "Knockout Ned"
- Seu Jorge
- Alicate, "Clipper"
- Jefechander Suplino
Crew
- Director
- Fernando Meirelles
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