Carandiru (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Hector Babenco

Writers:

Hector Babenco (writer)
Fernando Bonassi (writer)

Release Date:

11 April 2003 (Brazil)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

Brazilian MD Drauzio Varella starts AIDS prevention in Brazil's largest prison, Carandiru, in São Paulo...

Plot Keywords:

Brazil | Doctor | Bare Butt | Blood | Demolition

Awards:

12 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos	...	Physician
Milton Gonçalves	...	Chico
Ivan de Almeida	...	Ebony
Ailton Graça	...	Majestade
Maria Luisa Mendonça	...	Dalva
Aida Leiner	...	Rosirene
Rodrigo Santoro	...	Lady Di
Gero Camilo	...	No Way
Lázaro Ramos	...	Ezequiel
Caio Blat	...	Deusdete
Wagner Moura	...	Zico
Júlia Ianina	...	Francineide
Sabrina Greve	...	Catarina
Floriano Peixoto	...	Antônio Carlos
Ricardo Blat	...	Claudiomiro

Also Known As:

Carandirú (Argentina)
Carandiru: O Filme (Brazil) (trailer title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence/carnage, language, sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

145 min | France:148 min (Cannes Film Festival)

Country:

Brazil | Argentina

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Hungary:16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Italy:T | Canada:18A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Carandiru Prision, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Company:

BR Petrobrás

Trivia:

The real Carandiru prison was demolished in 2002, it will be transformed into a park with arts facilities. One block (#2) was left intact to be used as a museum. The film was the last thing they used the prison before demolishing 90% of it.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the riot, as the inmates are running up the stairs of the cell block shortly after the riot squad has entered, one inmate can be seen wearing a T-Shirt of hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. The group only formed in the year the riot took place (1992), and did not release their first widely available album (36 Chambers - Enter the Wu-Tang) until the following year. It is unlikely they would at this time have had a following in Brazil, nor would merchandise be available.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in O Prisioneiro da Grade de Ferro (2004)

Absolutely great!

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

I knew this fact would be shown in Hector Babenco's film, but I could never imagine it would be so strongly illustrated. It's pure violence and the audience gets really astonished. Although it's really sad and we can't avoid being sorry for those deaths and suffering, it's impossible not to like the movie. It's excellent.

It's important to say that the invasion is not the only fact that is showed. Actually the book is based in Drauzio Varela's book. Mr. Varela is a doctor who worked in the jail helping the prisoners. The book, that is called "Estação Carandiru" (Carandiru station - because of the underground station that is nearby) is a success in Brazil.

27-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 he'll be in "Charlie's Angels 2". Some other good actors like Milton Gonçalves and Caio Blat add more positive points to the production. Some others, unknown up to now, showed they'll probably have much success in the future due to their talent, like Lázaro Ramos.

Argentinean Hector Babenco directed `Carandiru' with a great sense of art, talent and made his film probably the best one of Brazilian cinema this year.

My rate 10/10