Carandiru

Amazon.com

The setting is grim, but Carandiru is easily one of Brazilian filmmaker Hector Babenco's most living, thriving works, with scores of powerful performances and an engaging style underscoring the cathartic power of storytelling. Based on a bestselling novel, Carandiru concerns an oncologist (Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos) who treats patients at Sao Paulo's House of Detention, a terrible place largely policed from within by longtime prisoners. The doctor is specifically interested in collecting blood samples for an HIV study, but the more prisoners open up to him, the more compassionate and committed he becomes about their survival. Babenco's episodic structure gives Carandiru a dimension of memory and constant shots of energy, so that even the most horrifying events--drug-related murder, rape, revenge--can't drive this tale into abject misery. Based on actual events, the drama's climactic police raid on the prison (a reconstruction of a 1992 riot called the Carandiru Massacre) is a tour de force. --Tom Keogh

Description

Acclaimed international filmmaker Hector Babenco dramatically captures the powerful intensity of this true story of hope and survival inside Brazil's most notorious prison. Based on a true story of the day of the Carandiru massacre.

Customer Reviews:

barbaric brazilian prison.......2007-01-25

Built in 1928 to hold 4,000 prisoners, the Carandiru House of Detention in Sao Paulo housed 7,500 violent criminals and was the largest prison in Latin America. That was before it was closed and then demolished in late 2002, ten years after government troops stormed the prison in October 1992 and killed 111 inmates after a riot had broken out. Not a single police died, and as the film portrays it the prisoners had thrown their weapons out the barred windows and waved white flags. Based on these real life events, the film traces the violent prison subculture, the stories of several inmates (through extensive use of flashbacks), and especially the role played by the humanitarian prison doctor, Drauzio Varella, who volunteered his services for fourteen years after visiting the prison for AIDS research. He later wrote a memoir about his experiences, Carandiru Station, which forms the basis of the film. The film culminates in the riot, features the actual footage when it was demolished by dynamite in December 2002, and incorporates interviews with prisoners who survived the massacre. This film is not for weak stomachs; it is an unsettling commentary on the Darwinian subculture and institutionalized inhumanity inside our worst prisons. In Portuguese with subtitles.

Stark, engrossing portrayal of life in a notorious Brazilian prison.......2006-10-10

This is much more than a prison riot film. In fact, the entire first two hours are spent exploring the lives and back stories of a select group of prisoners. Using a technique that will be familiar to viewers of the HBO series "Oz", we follow each of the prisoners in flashback through the series of events that led to their imprisonment. We also come to know what level of status (or lack of it) they each hold within the prison pecking order.

The result is for the most part a detailed portrait of daily life at Carandiru -- rivalries, loyalties, fights, love affairs, drug abuse, and murder -- along with a portrayal of the warden and his staff that is unexpectedly sympathetic.

It is worth noting that, while the conditions inside are certainly filthy and deplorable, the prisoners enjoy a surprising amount of freedom compared to similar facilities in the States. What surprised me most is a "family day" that is held each year where parents, wives, girlfriends, and children come to mingle throughout the facility with their jailed loved ones. Families picnic together and couples enjoy conjugal visits.

When the riot eventually does break out, it is not simply because the prisoners are rebelling against the poor conditions .. it is also because of one or more events that take place. (Nobody is quite capable of saying exactly which event or combination of them.) What is far more clear is the brutality shown by the police riot squad as it takes control of the facility once the prisoners have surrendered their weapons. Blood literally runs through the hallways and down the stairwells. Having come to know many of the prisoners as people makes these scenes very difficult to watch.

Overall this is an excellent movie, although anyone expecting 2-1/2 hours of hostage-taking and violence will be disappointed by its insistence on first taking the measure of the prisoners' humanity.

WASTE OF MONEY.......2006-08-10

Long and boring. Cameos/flashbacks of various prisoners as they explain to the doctor how they ended up in prison. Nothing extraordinary. Lousy filming/directing. Should never have received awards. I don't make movies but give me a camera and I could film it, asleep. No real tension in the riot, and I wish I could get my money back. (City of God,((about life in the slums of Brazil)) is one of the best movies you will ever see/real-to-life/with DVD option to see real footage). Powerful/natural acting/doesn't even seem like they're acting.
When you view the documentary, you'll see that their characters were true to life, 100%. Note Interview of the Chief of Police who is very upfront and remarks that the police force is admittedly corrupt and exists only to protect the rich. Buy it, and you will enjoy and witness advanced/top notch/creative cinematography. This is for a collection.

Great Movie...If you liked City of God, You'll Love this Movie........2006-06-26

This movie surpassed my expectations by far, and best of all... my girlfriend loved it as well (she is a tougher critic!). Any who, you won't be diasppointed.

Stupid.......2005-10-14

This movie is very disappointing in many ways. Technically poor, mostly boring, mediocre performances of the actors, confusing and not accurate real story. Babenco sure has done better things, such as Ironweed, Pixote or At Play in the Fields of the Lord. This movie should be more honest on telling us the whole story about the police invasion and massacre, which of course wasn't motivated by a fight during a soccer game, and everybody who's informed about knows it, huh? It seems that Babenco "forgot", prefering to serve us with a stupid and inaccurate politically correct version of the things.
Not worthy watching or renting it. Piece of junk for sure.

Average customer rating:

Vol. 2-Carandiru Outras Historias
Starring: Carandiru Outras Historias
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Average customer rating:

Carandiru Outras Historias
Starring: Carandiru Outras Historias
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Average customer rating:

barbaric brazilian prison
Stark, engrossing portrayal of life in a notorious Brazilian prison
WASTE OF MONEY
Great Movie...If you liked City of God, You'll Love this Movie.
Stupid

Carandiru [Region 2]
Starring: Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos , Milton Gonçalves , Ivan de Almeida , Ailton Graça , and Maria Luisa Mendonça
Director: Hector Babenco
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00024769M

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

barbaric brazilian prison.......2007-01-25

Stark, engrossing portrayal of life in a notorious Brazilian prison.......2006-10-10

WASTE OF MONEY.......2006-08-10

Great Movie...If you liked City of God, You'll Love this Movie........2006-06-26

This movie surpassed my expectations by far, and best of all... my girlfriend loved it as well (she is a tougher critic!). Any who, you won't be diasppointed.

Stupid.......2005-10-14

Average customer rating:

Carandiru Outras Historias
Starring: Carandiru Outras Historias
Manufacturer: Som Livre
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

DVD:

DVD

DVD