Stories of crime, revenge, love, and friendship at the Carandiru Penitentiary, the largest prison in Latin America.Stories of crime, revenge, love, and friendship at the Carandiru Penitentiary, the largest prison in Latin America.Stories of crime, revenge, love, and friendship at the Carandiru Penitentiary, the largest prison in Latin America.
- Awards
- 16 wins & 33 nominations
Enrique Diaz
- Gilson
- (as Enrique Díaz)
Aida Leiner
- Rosirene
- (as Aída Leiner)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDr. 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.
- GoofsDuring the riot, as the inmates are running up the stairs of the cell block shortly after the riot squad has entered, one inmate can be seen wearing a T-Shirt of hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. The group only formed in the year the riot took place (1992), and did not release their first widely available album (36 Chambers - Enter the Wu-Tang) until the following year. It is unlikely they would at this time have had a following in Brazil, nor would merchandise be available.
- Quotes
Lady Di: I've come to take the test.
Médico - Physician: Please, take a seat. First, I'd like to ask you a few questions, Lady Di.
Lady Di: I've seen this movie before, doctor. I've never needed a blood transfusion and I never pierce my veins. The only drug I use is a joint now and then... when I watch TV or for a little romance.
Médico - Physician: And partners, how many?
Lady Di: Oh, about 2000.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 2005 Glitter Awards (2005)
Featured review
Let's get things straight here, if you were drawn to this film due its comparisons to the equally magnificent City of God, you're going to be surprised. Aside from the fact that its a Brazilian film about criminals, there are few similarities. While City of God was an epic story of life in the slums of Rio De Janeiro, Carandiru is about much older criminals and the days leading up to the infamous Carandiru prison massacre.
However, this is not the non-stop assault on the senses of grim violence you might expect. In fact, only the last twenty minutes or so of the film deal with the massacre at all and the film instead concentrates on a much more human aspect to the carnage. Focusing on the character of the Doctor as he tries to raise awareness of AIDs in the prison, it revolves around his day to day life as he chats casually with the inmates, learning of their hopes, fears and more often than not, their reason for being in the prison in the first place. These are stories that range from sad, to touching to outright hilarity and you soon find yourself absorbed in this world of offbeat criminals, so much so that when the violence does erupt, it is all the more shocking for it.
There are differences to the normal, US prison drama as well. I'm not sure how the Brazilians run their penitentiaries, but here there are no uniforms and they are allowed many of the comforts of home, along with free reign of the prison yard. But these are still drab conditions, with multiple inmates crammed into a single room, sweltering in the intense heat of the tropical summer. And ultimately, the prison is a community, made of genuine individuals, rather than clear cut prison stereotypes. This is a masterful film, one of my top movies of all time.
However, this is not the non-stop assault on the senses of grim violence you might expect. In fact, only the last twenty minutes or so of the film deal with the massacre at all and the film instead concentrates on a much more human aspect to the carnage. Focusing on the character of the Doctor as he tries to raise awareness of AIDs in the prison, it revolves around his day to day life as he chats casually with the inmates, learning of their hopes, fears and more often than not, their reason for being in the prison in the first place. These are stories that range from sad, to touching to outright hilarity and you soon find yourself absorbed in this world of offbeat criminals, so much so that when the violence does erupt, it is all the more shocking for it.
There are differences to the normal, US prison drama as well. I'm not sure how the Brazilians run their penitentiaries, but here there are no uniforms and they are allowed many of the comforts of home, along with free reign of the prison yard. But these are still drab conditions, with multiple inmates crammed into a single room, sweltering in the intense heat of the tropical summer. And ultimately, the prison is a community, made of genuine individuals, rather than clear cut prison stereotypes. This is a masterful film, one of my top movies of all time.
- ExpendableMan
- Jan 19, 2005
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Vzbura vo väznici Carandiru
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- R$12,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $216,335
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $17,945
- May 16, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $10,781,635
- Runtime2 hours 25 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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