Pixote (1981)

The life of a boy in the streets of Sao Paulo, involved with crimes, prostitution and drugs.

Director:

Hector Babenco

Writers:

Hector Babenco (story), Jorge Durán (story)

Stars:

Fernando Ramos da Silva, Jorge Julião, Gilberto Moura

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fernando Ramos da Silva	...	Pixote
Jorge Julião	...	Lilica
Gilberto Moura	...	Dito
Edilson Lino	...	Chico
Zenildo Oliveira Santos	...	Fumaça
Claudio Bernardo	...	Garatao
Israel Feres David	...	Roberto Pie de Plata
Jose Nilson Martin Dos Santos	...	Diego
Marília Pêra	...	Sueli
Jardel Filho	...	Sapatos Brancos
Rubens de Falco	...	Juiz
Elke Maravilha	...	Debora
Tony Tornado	...	Cristal
Beatriz Segall	...	Widower
João José Pompeo	...	Almir (as Joáo José Pompeu)

Storyline

Pixote, a 10-year-old runaway boy, is arrested on the streets of Sao Paulo during a police round-up homeless people. Pixote endures torture, degradation and corruption at a local youth detention center where two of the runaways are murdered by policemen who frame Lilica, a 17-year-old transvesite hustler. Pixote helps Lilica and three other boys escape where they make their living by the life of crime which only escalates to more violence and death.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | violence | police | death | child protagonist | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

18 September 1981 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Pixote

Filming Locations:

Avenida Paulista, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embrafilme, HB Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Pixote kisses the prostitute played by Marília Pêra was an improvisation created by the actress without Hector Babenco knowing it. Pêra said to Fernando Ramos da Silva (Pixote) that during rehearsals she would say 'marshmellow' and then nothing would happen between them but during shooting when she speaks the word, Ramos would have to kiss her instantly. Ramos did it and when a surprised Babenco said cut, he was deeply impressed by the child's improvisation. Pêra tells this story in the documentary Pixote, in memorian (2007).

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Alternate Versions

All UK versions were cut by 27 secs under the 1978 Protection of Children Act. The scene removed was a panning shot showing Pixote on a bed alongside a couple having sex.

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Connections

References Citizen Kane (1941)

User Reviews

...emotionally devastating...

"Pixote" is the one of most powerful, shocking, and moving motion picture to come from Brazil. It's about the lives of street kids on the streets of Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro, and it centers around a ten-year-old boy. The camera follows them around in an almost documentary style;from the juvenile detention center (where most of the staff is as corrupt as the police) and back to the streets, and it never turns away from the horrors of the city. Prostitution, drug use/dealing, corruption, and murder are all witnessed by these youths; yet it's something they're painfully used to. Director Hector Babenco used real street kids as the actors, adding to the films brutal reality. Although not for everyone, a film I highly recommend. An emotionally devastating movie.