Lower City (2005)
"Cidade Baixa" (original title)

Lifelong friends Deco and Naldinho, who own a small steaming boat in Bahia, meet strip-dancer Karinna. Both men fall for her and their friendship is deeply shattered.

Director:

Sérgio Machado

Writers:

Karim Ainouz, Sérgio Machado,

Stars:

Lázaro Ramos, Wagner Moura, Alice Braga

18 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lázaro Ramos	...	Deco
Wagner Moura	...	Naldinho
Alice Braga	...	Karinna
Maria Menezes	...	Luzinete
Joao Miguel Leonelli	...	Pharmacist
Débora Santiago	...	Sirlene
Hugo Rodas	...	Chilean Commander
Divina Valéria	...	Zilu
Dois Mundos	...	Himself
Gerónimo	...	Fuá
Fernando Fulco	...	Delegate
David Herman	...	English Commander
Olga Machado	...	Doctor
Fernanda Freitas	...	Nilma
Ricardo Luedy	...	Client of Karinna

Storyline

Lifelong friends Deco and Naldinho, who own a small steaming boat in Bahia, meet strip-dancer Karinna. Both men fall for her and their friendship is deeply shattered.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | friendship | boat | topless female nudity | pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

Love to live. Live to love.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, some violence and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Océan Films [fr] Official site

Country:

Brazil UK

Language:

Portuguese Spanish English

Release Date:

2 December 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Lower City

Filming Locations:

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$8,199 (USA) (16 June 2006)

Gross:

$130,578 (USA) (22 September 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

VideoFilmes, Buena Onda Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In closer shots of Karinna on the stripper pole, we can see that she is wearing panties. In farther-away shots, she appears full-frontally nude, putting said panties on.

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Connections

References The Hot Chick (2002)

User Reviews

Real and Cruel Triangle of Love

In the Northeastern of Brazil, the twenty years old hooker Karinna (Alice Braga) negotiates a travel to Salvador, Bahia, in the boat of the friends Deco (Lázaro Ramos) and Naldinho (Wagner Moura), having sex with them and getting some money in return. Deco first, and Naldinho later, fall in love for Karinna, who likes both of them, forming a triangle of love and jeopardizing the friendship of Deco and Naldinho.

"Cidade Baixa" is a real and cruel triangle of love, having the landscape of the red light district in the lower zone of Salvador and the environment of hopeless people that lives in the limit of the marginality of the society, prostituting, robbing, and fighting for surviving. The plot is actually unpredictable, with many possibilities and an open end, having the excellent actor Lázaro Ramos in the lead role, with the also good actor Wagner Moura. But the great surprise is the unknown actress Alice Braga, niece of Sonia Braga, performing a very erotic and hot character and dignifying the name of her aunt. This low budget movie exhales sexual tension and eroticism, and is very pleasant and recommended, showing a deglamorized side of Brazil unknown even for many Brazilians. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Cidade Baixa" ("Lower City")