What was purgatory is now Hell

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2004)

Greetings again from the darkness. Oscar nominated director Fernando Meireilos' film is based on a true story from the slums outside of Rio. This compelling drama literally takes us inside the ultra violent drug world run by the rawest form of machismo. From an early age, kids are drawn to the power and elite status (so-called respect) that this sick world offers. No one really escapes. This world is just a giant circle of blood and death where the parts are continously replaced by someone more violent. Failure comes to those who try to walk away or run away. This world provides only one way out. The story is told from the perspective of Rocket, a boy who manages to escape joining a gang since he is seen as pretty harmless and is the younger brother of one of the early trio of thugs. Rocket finds his redemption through a camera and actually capitalizes on this brutal underworld to crack the door to a life as a journalistic photographer. The real story here is the lack of hope and the total desperation from such an early age. Many scenes are so graphic as to cause this viewer to cringe and even look away from the screen. Such a powerful, yet sad message delivered by the some of the finest film art one could hope for.