Carandiru (2003)

What is the goal of this film? From a very catholic world, a catholic hagiography. But there are so many shinny lights along the way, the writer keeps forgetting the goal. Is it about the saintly doctor? Is is about society? Is is about the misery of poverty? Is it about the prison system? Is it about power? The stories are too many and too undeveloped, only a long string of summer time snapshots. The only thing liking all this mess together is the rigid dogma of the producers who at the same time want to do charity and stone the sinners.Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

Sociopolitical context: This movie is perfect if you want to understand why the PCC (Primeiro Commando da Capital) was founded after the Carandiru Massacre of '92. The PCC is a state recognized terrorist group which coordinates massive and simultaneous prison riots throughout the state of Sao Paulo. About 2-3 years ago, it staged a major riot that took to the streets of Sao Paulo and couldn't be quelled for days.Moreover, many people have considered this movie to be biased. In a sense, that is very true because it is told by the doctor who treated the inmates and thus forged friendships with the criminals. Moreover, the military police officers who raided the prison have never come forward to give their accounts of the events.This movie is set in the late 80s, at the outbreak of the AIDS pandemic and culminates with the infamous massacre. The movie surveys the lives of several inmates, in the style of "mockumentary." This is used primarily to humanize the criminals and to give them a voice, as well as a sense of humanity. Regardless of what society thinks of criminals (or "marginais"), this film made sure that every inmate had a name, a story and a sense of honor. (However warped we think they may be.) Many will call this part slow because it is: it's not designed to progress the plot, it's merely there to make you feel the humanity of these prisoners. In my opinion, although slow, it was still fun to watch. Classic moment: showdown of Majestade's "honeys." The effect of the "slow" hours of the movie finally deliver a very traumatic and powerful result: when the military police stormed the prison towards the end, it is trying not to feel genuine shock and horror. I was seriously disturbed; although quelled, the MP invaded the prison anyway and opened fire at inmates that had massively surrendered their weapons. The blood pool and collection of holed-up corpses along the corridors sent shivers up my spine. 111 inmates murdered by the MP without weapons. Based on Dr. Drauzio Varella's accounts, there was no legally justifiable or excusable reason for opening fire upon 111 inmates. The humiliation that followed was likewise painful to watch.I enjoyed this movie because it poised many questions: which punishment should fit which crime? Is humiliation and slaughter appropriate only when you wear a badge? Who is the bigger criminal? Brazil - for all its faults - is still my home and I love my country. I was taught to believe that crime is commonplace and part of living in such a beautiful and warm land. However, as a law-abiding citizen, how much brutality do I tolerate in my name? And on a side note, a mundane curiosity overcame me: how come they get to walk around freely around the prison? How is it that Lady Di has a very cute and well-decorated room? How and why do they get hot plates, TVs & radio? If this is true, it really does crack me up and stirs a myriad of emotions in me towards the Brazilian justice system!Lastly, if you're not about any of the political stuff, at least watch it for Rodrigo Santoro's performance. He is AWESOME in drag!

Individual stories of inmates in the huge, overcrowded and infamous Carandiru penitentiary in Sao Paulo, Brazil; the fil rouge being a doctor (a narrow character who ain't but a narrative excuse) who decides to take care of the prisoners during the outbreak of AIDS epidemic. At the end, a futile fight starts a riot which will eventually end with the death of 111 inmates.Carandiru is'nt a masterpiece. But it's a good, solid, non moralistic or stereotyped and yet entertaining prison movie which manage to transport the non-Brazilian viewer to feel the noises, the colors, even the scents of a lively, desperate and merciless world in which good and evil, guilt and innocence are inextricable.Way better than Ciudad de Deus ("City of God") by Meirelles, which was a lot more successful abroad; IMHO, it was just a stylish gangster-movie with a Brazilian location.

I got this off Ebay for $9 including shipping for the 2-disc version. For that price this movie was a steal, I can't complain at all. I am a fan of the HBO series OZ, and seeing some comments on here comparing the two really had me excited to see this. It didn't disapoint, but it didn't leave me begging for more. It was a good movie, but not something I was jumping for joy over.I think a good attempt was made at giving as much background on the characters as possible, to try to make the audience realize where each person was coming from. You see this in OZ also, as they have flashbacks to life outside of prison leading up to their time in lockdown. The problem is OZ had 6 seasons, each having 8 hours of footage. What I realized over time (and they express this in Carandiru) is prison changes a person, so a lot of the real "character build up" per say actually comes from their life in prison more than their life outside. There wasn't enough time in this film to learn about everyone to really appreciate what some of them were going through. The character oldman for example didn't have enough history behind him to effect me. There were good characters and if given the same amount of time as OZ to build, would be just as powerful. I sit here as I type this and wish there was a series to be honest.The film was well done, and in some ways I enjoyed it more than one of Hector's other films Pixote. I have suggest some friends watch this, but I can't put it in the same category as an Oldboy, Bus 174 or City of God for example. It's just a bit short.