A violent Brazilian film Lira recommends: Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite)
Some of you probably remember how much I hate City of God. I do, with passion, and often people asked me whether I could recommend a good film regarding violence in Brazil. Well, here it is: Elite Squad ("Tropa de Elite"1, in Portuguese).
The film is very realistic, and depicts the problem of violence in Rio de Janeiro from a different point of view - that of a policeman, from the Special Police Operations Battalion (that's our SWAT). Based on a semi-fictional book written by a sociologist, it is spot-on when it shows the rationale behind police brutality and how drugs trafficking in Brazil and violence are intrinsically related (this is probably the case in other countries, too, reason why I think foreigners can probably relate to it).
The part I liked the most is the one I experienced first-hand, back when I studied Foreign Affairs in a private institution. There, I witnessed the attitude of upper class students who would often complain about the violence, even though they indirectly sponsored it through drug use. I also liked the way they criticised Foucault's thought, if applied to Brazilian society.
I'm not going to give more details about the plot, but try to watch it if you can - it should be available in American theatres next January2
^ Unfortunately, I don't know about the release dates in other countries
Posted by chach on Oct-29-2007 00:59:
sympathy post
Posted by Krypton on Oct-29-2007 01:21:
Re: A violent Brazilian film Lira recommends: Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite)
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
Some of you probably remember how much I hate City of God. I do, with passion, and often people asked me whether I could recommend a good film regarding violence in Brazil. Well, here it is: Elite Squad ("Tropa de Elite"1, in Portuguese).
The film is very realistic, and depicts the problem of violence in Rio de Janeiro from a different point of view - that of a policeman, from the Special Police Operations Battalion (that's our SWAT). Based on a semi-fictional book written by a sociologist, it is spot-on when it shows the rationale behind police brutality and how drugs trafficking in Brazil and violence are intrinsically related (this is probably the case in other countries, too, reason why I think foreigners can probably relate to it).
The part I liked the most is the one I experienced first-hand, back when I studied Foreign Affairs in a private institution. There, I witnessed the attitude of upper class students who would often complain about the violence, even though they indirectly sponsored it through drug use. I also liked the way they criticised Foucault's thought, if applied to Brazilian society.
I'm not going to give more details about the plot, but try to watch it if you can - it should be available in American theatres next January2
^ Unfortunately, I don't know about the release dates in other countries
No government can stamp out supply and demand economics at work. The mafia will just take over the commerce from legal entities. Awesome stuff though. Does Brazil have gangsta music like the US?..Posted by iammesol on Oct-29-2007 01:23:
quote:
Originally posted by chach
sympathy post
Posted by Danny Ocean on Oct-29-2007 01:33:
so city of god is bullshit? kids dont kill like that?
Posted by SuspicionVandit on Oct-29-2007 01:45:
quote:
Michel Misse, a researcher for Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, in an interview to Carta Capital, tried to explain why Capit�o Nascimento is cheered: "as the judiciary system cannot keep up with the demand for punishment, some may think civil rights leads to unpunishment. And then, they want illegal solutions. That's why Capit�o Nascimento is called".
looks interesting enough
Posted by The Master on Oct-29-2007 02:42:
Lira, I hope you ever have the chance to watch a film called "La Sierra". It is a shocking documentary with no music, no acting, only 2 hours of straight footage that will enlighten you about the actual daily conflict going on in Medellin, Colombia.
Re: Re: A violent Brazilian film Lira recommends: Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite)
I'm going to check it out, Master, cheers
(I can't watch the trailer right now )
quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
No government can stamp out supply and demand economics at work. The mafia will just take over the commerce from legal entities. Awesome stuff though. Does Brazil have gangsta music like the US?..
Yeah, there's some, but it doesn't seem to be as popular as in the US for some reason. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with quality, that's for sure
quote:
Originally posted by Danny Ocean
so city of god is bullshit? kids dont kill like that?
That's not the reason why I don't like that film. It's just banal, and romanticised violence in such a way that it achieved no actual goal. It didn't raise awareness, it didn't help explain the system from a broader perspective, it did nothing really.
I've got nothing against blockbusters, but when capitalism exploits misery for entertainment's sake... well, I just can't approve any of that.
quote:
Originally posted by SuspicionVandit
looks interesting enough
Yeah, some researchers are now trying to learn why it is that Captain Nascimento is seen as a hero in Brazil. The director said he had not seen it coming, and is equally surprised.
I agree with Misse, reason why I actually thought Nascimento was supposed to be a "good guy" Posted by d-miurge on Oct-29-2007 22:00:
I love "Cidade de deus". Is it in the same vein (artistically-speaking)?
Posted by Lira on Oct-29-2007 22:23:
quote:
Originally posted by d-miurge
I love "Cidade de deus". Is it in the same vein (artistically-speaking)?
Hmmmm... kind of. Whereas Cidade de Deus was an artsy portrait of suburban Rio (with special FX and nice photography), this one is far more realistic and raw.
It's as if you were there watching all the events unfolding in front of you.
Posted by nchs09 on Oct-29-2007 22:29:
i actually hate everything that is brazilian
Posted by Lira on Oct-29-2007 22:53:
quote:
Originally posted by nchs09
i actually hate everything that is brazilian
You're just jealous because you're Mexican
Posted by LoveHate on Oct-29-2007 22:58:
no city of god is the best thing out of brazil besides the girls,futball, and beaches ......damn i wanne go back.
Posted by nchs09 on Oct-30-2007 00:13:
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
You're just jealous because you're Mexican
just wanted to see what you typed. i love things that come out of brazil... friends, music, food, drinks etc..
Posted by lim f(x) = f(a) on Mar-10-2008 18:59:
A violent Brazilian film Lira recommends: Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite)
