Fast, frenetic and fantastically authentic, this energetically eclectic crime thriller is evocative, lively and emotionally affecting.

Rating: 9/10 (2 December 2017)

The energy of the piece itself is almost as palpable as that of the bustling city and its often dubious inhabitants, as the film is brought to life with a fantastically frenetic, frankly ferocious vigorous verve simply seldom seen in cinema, and its the combination of the vibrant cinematography and energetic editing with the gritty, almost documentary-esque style of the story that makes the piece feel so realistic and alive; its a sprawling sequence of vignettes depicting the struggles that come when trying to escape the violence that surrounds the gang-heavy slums of Rio De Janeirio and, though at times it seems slightly unfocused as it hops from character to character, its central themes are strong enough to carry straight through like a well-aimed bullet, especially since it usually keeps a keen focus on its protagonist whom is used as a lens to view the eclectic events that surround him, so in the end it becomes a lively, evocative, authentic and affecting look at an endless cycle of violence and perhaps the only way to escape it. 9/10