Dr. Dráuzio Varella wrote the original book at the encouragement of a patient he was treating for lymphatic cancer. That very patient happened to be Hector Babenco, who recovered and went on to direct the film adaptation.
The real Carandiru prison was demolished in 2002. It was transformed into a park with arts facilities. One pavilion (#2) was left intact to be used as a museum. The film was the last thing they used the prison before demolishing 90% of it.
Filmed in the actual abandoned prison of Carandiru. Production obtained permission of the then São Paulo administration for filming in 2001.
Rodrigo Santoro secretly went to see the movie in the theater and, much to his astonishment, saw people leaving it during the scene his character Lady Di and No Way kiss. Before filming the scene, he was told by Gero Camilo that such kiss meant an "all lips' kiss", and would resonate as a "slap on the face" of many audiences.
Had, at its time, the highest budget for a Brazilian production: 12 million.