Babilônia 2000 (1999) User Reviews

The other half of Rio celebrates the turn of the millennium

[mgbruzon · 9/10 · 5 February 2001]

This wonderful and insightful documentary focuses on the favela (slum) dwellers of Rio de Janeiro. And in particular all that takes place in the lives of a dozen very different characters from Babilonia, the hilltop slum with "Million Dollar Views." The inhabitants of Babilonia, by and large, are content to live in their own world high atop Copacabana. Fresh and candid interviews with these people, while following their activities during 18 hours between 11 AM New Year's Eve and the wee hours of New Year's Day 2000, are the essence of this fresh eye opener. A must.

Inside a Rio de Janeiro slum, one of the best documentaries by Eduardo Coutinho

[guisreis · 9/10 · 21 July 2022]

One of the best documentaries by Eduardo Coutinho. This time, filmmaker shared responsibility with his crew, as his assistants spread themselves throughout the slum and made interviews separately. As a matter of fact, they were able to capture precious testimonies, like in the best Coutinho works. Violence, deaths by murder in family and inner strategies to deal with they are a core issue in the film and in the life of people who live there. Religiousness and mysticism, more varied than one may expect, is also an issue that reappears often. Harsh life and conscious complaints about unfair society co-exist with mostly outgoing mood and warmth. Racism, prejudice against the poor, how to make a living, family structure, masculinity, marriage and loving relationship, and parochialism are also addressed. Music and even cinema are very present in the community too. As a documentary on the passage of 1999 to year 2000 and the change of century and millennium, there is the recurrent question about the expectations of the interviewees: very few people answered that they hoped things would become better, and several people said basically the very same words: "things will remain the same, perhaps will get worse". It is a film about emotional strategies to overcome adversities, in with reality and illusion are sides of the same coin.