MOVIE REVIEW: Carandiru (2003)

Films concerning human rights fascinate me, Carandiru happens to be one of those films. Set in a Brazilian prison of the same name during the early 1990s, a young doctor enters Carandiru in order to treat the predominatly male prisoners from a rampaging AIDS epidemic within the cells. Not only does he (and the audience) come to learn about some of his regular clients colorful backstories, but he discovers a whole culture within the thick, concrete walls of the prison. A culture where a skewed pecking order is established and the prisoners; murderers, drug dealers, hustlers, and pimps alike - some of whom even happen to be LGBT - all live within an unorthodox but tangible harmony. Only when conditions get worse, do things culminate in the horrific and real-life 1992 Carandiru massacre, where many of the prisoners met their end executed by riot police.

Carandiru is presented as an interesting neorealist slice of life. Although the actual massacre doesn't occur until the last 20 minutes of the film, we become as fascinated by the inmates as much as the doctor who is treating them does. Apparently, the director made a point to cast as few professional actors he could, and populates the cast with mostly non-actors - some of whom were allegedly former inmated of Carandiru, themselves. This gives the production a very authentic quality, and refreshingly unglamorous from the usual Hollywood or high-profile indie treatments. By the time the massacre hits, you understand how the prisoners felt as the violence hailed upon them; this is intentionally biased, because it is from the prisoners point of view, and it's done wonderfully.

With all it's splendor, Carandiru does actually happen to be quite long. At two hours and twenty-five minutes, it's a lot to take in at once. The stories can feel a little exhausting, but thankfully, the film moves at a brisk enough pace that length doesn't appear too much of an issue. Just as long as you can stomach the film's vividly visceral nature, the film is enjoyable enough.

8/10

Peace,
- Jon