Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) (2007)

An examination of corruption and class warfare in Brazil as told through the stories of a wealthy businessman, a plastic surgeon who assists kidnapping victims and a politician whose income relies on a frog farm.

Director:

Jason Kohn

7 wins & 5 nominations.

Storyline

Several stories are told simultaneously: a frog farm in northern Brasil launders money for a corrupt politician; a young woman who was kidnapped for ransom talks about her ordeal; a plastic surgeon discusses then demonstrates how to reconstruct a severed ear; a young business man has his cars armored and takes a course in evasive driving; a policeman in Sao Paulo's anti-kidnapping squad discusses his work; a civil engineer, the attorney general, and a district attorney describe their anti-corruption efforts. Violence and corruption is Brasil: the object is money.

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Plot Keywords:

politician | frog farm | frog | corruption | ransom | 

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Taglines:

When the rich steal from the poor... the poor steal the rich

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

City Light Picures [Brazil]

Country:

Brazil USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

19 April 2009 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)

Filming Locations:

Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,030, 19 August 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$111,444, 14 October 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kilo Films,Whitest Pouring Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.69 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The filmmakers struggled to find a kidnapper to film after the bribes to get into the prison where their preferred interviewee was staying proved too steep. The driver of a cab they used one day delivered "packages" on the side for a kidnapper, and introduced them to the masked man interviewed extensively in the film. Director Jason Kohn also was at the kidnapper's home when police stopped by and walked around the outside, the one moment of filming he said he feared for his life.

User Reviews

Fantastic!

This movie is really excellent! I wish a Brazilian director had the guts to do it!

I read some stupid reviews here, like "what's with the frogs?" or complaining about the use of strong images, that the subjects should be 2 different movies, "there was no a-ha moment"... come on... seriously??

This movie is not about "a-ha moments" like stupid fiction movies. This is not Sunday afternoon entertainment. This is about what people have to deal daily. There are no bad guys or good guys. It's not that clear. There are good guys depending on how much you can afford...

Corruption, criminality and violence are all consequences. They are part of a never-ending cycle that began long ago.

Congratulations for the director, producer and crew.