It leaves the judgments to the viewer

Rating: 10/10 (25 January 2005)

With a Dickensian plot (if the content is un-bowdlerized), a child nicknamed "Rocket" (as translated in the English subtitles) relates his rise from a ghetto-dweller to a successful photojournalist who exposes the harsh world of his origin to the complacent Brazilians who live in the picture-postcard world of its upper and middle classes, and his entry into their world. "Rocket" is effectively the narrator.
This masterful filming establishes the human condition wherever people are neglected because they are 'inconvenient'. The place could just as easily be Soweto or even Detroit. The poor try to survive by doing the dirty work that the bourgeoisie needs to have done but won't do itself. Parents may have aspirations for their children's improvement and insist that they go to school, study, and prepare to do honest work. The easy money of illegal activities, whether robberies or drug dealing, intoxicates some, and draws them into a trap. Personal 'honor' is to be protected at all costs to others, and thus the vendetta. But such is the sociological angle, and most of us have seen that story in a newspaper.
It's an exciting tale of survival and shaky success -- and of the ultimate dangers of crime. It's also a romance and a tale of the richness of the popular culture which on occasion brings some brightness into the dreary slum. But such brightness results from successful crooks getting control and showing off their success with the monetary fruits of their drug-trafficking. Not surprisingly, it erupts into a local civil war.
"Rocket" demonstrates that with some sensitivity and some usefulness he can beat the odds stacked against him. Does he? To give the answer introduces a spoiler. Just watch the movie; except for the sexuality it might as well be a Brazilian version of-Te Godfather- with a few plot twists.
The cinematography is spectacular, but beware: there is much violence, and much sexuality. It is rightfully rated 'R'; nobody in his right mind would want his children to imitate any of the criminal deeds shown in this film. Overt sexuality, including interracial sexuality, will offend some people. (Note that interracial sexuality in American movies is ordinarily exploitative. Not here!) That said, the filmmaker has chosen to not make any preachy comment on whether the social conditions are at all tolerable, whether drug use is desirable, or whether the violence that results from 'turf wars' or retribution against real or imagined slights to one's 'honor' are excusable. That's for the viewer to decide.